2025 NFL Draft grades and reactions
The 2025 NFL Draft is in the books, and as always, there were smart moves, big reaches, and everything in between.
In the breakdowns below, I graded each team’s draft haul based on overall talent added, draft strategy, fit with team needs, and value relative to the picks spent.
Some teams made bold moves that could define their next decade — others left a lot of people scratching their heads.
Let’s dive in and see who nailed it… and who might be regretting it sooner than later.
Arizona Cardinals
Round 1 (No. 16): DT Walter Nolen, Mississippi
Round 2 (No. 47): CB Will Johnson, Michigan
Round 3 (No. 78): EDGE Jordan Burch, Oregon
Round 4 (No. 115): LB Cody Simon, Ohio State
Round 5 (No. 174): CB Denzel Burke, Ohio State
Round 6 (No. 211): OG Hayden Conner, Texas
Round 7 (No. 225): S Kitan Crawford, Nevada
The Arizona Cardinals took big swings in the first two rounds, and it’ll be interesting to see how both of these prospects work out over the next couple of years. Walter Nolen, the DT out of Ole Miss, is a pass-rushing interior lineman with some of the most natural and disruptive explosion in the class — some regard him as the most physically gifted DT available. The big concern with Nolen is off-field, as reports point to issues with maturity and commitment to his craft.
On the other hand, CB Will Johnson’s slide to the second round was entirely due to medical concerns. Johnson was mocked inside the top 10 — even top 5 — early in the offseason, until red flags started popping up about his knee and the possible degenerative nature of the injury. If Johnson stays healthy, the Cardinals land the best corner in the draft at pick 47.
With picks like Burch and Burke, the Cardinals continued to grab talent that graded higher than their draft slot and did so while accruing an extra pick in the sixth round. Ultimately, Arizona utilized a smart draft strategy: gamble big early, then capitalize on a deep draft class in the later rounds. They could reap the rewards quickly if it pans out.
Grade: A-
Atlanta Falcons
Round 1 (No. 15): EDGE Jalon Walker, Georgia
Round 1 (No. 26): EDGE James Pearce Jr., Tennessee
Round 3 (No. 96): S Xavier Watts, Notre Dame
Round 4 (No. 118): S Billy Bowman Jr., Oklahoma
Round 7 (No. 218): OT Jack Nelson, Wisconsin
This draft will likely be one of the more divisive among pundits — not necessarily because of talent selected, but because of the misuse of future draft capital.
The Falcons’ selection of Jalon Walker at 15 was a chalk pick given the way the board fell. Walker was both a BPA (Best Player Available) and a need pick, while also being a hometown favorite as a standout Georgia Bulldog. He offers versatility to play both off the edge and as a true backer, though his tweener status may cause some fit issues at the NFL level.
However, the Falcons’ trade up for Tennessee’s James Pearce Jr. is the big sticking point. Pearce was once seen as a potential top-five pick, but a disappointing college season led to a significant drop. While he still has physical gifts, the decision to give up a second-round pick and next year’s first-rounder to grab him was a value nightmare.
Beyond Day 1, the Falcons grabbed an intriguing safety in Xavier Watts, but then doubled down on safety with Billy Bowman — a strange choice considering their limited picks.
Overall, it was a less-than-inspiring draft for Atlanta, who mortgaged future assets while picking players with more question marks than you’d like.
Grade: D
Baltimore Ravens
Round 1 (No. 27): S Malaki Starks, Georgia
Round 2 (No. 59): EDGE Mike Green, Marshall
Round 3 (No. 91): OT Emery Jones Jr., LSU
Round 4 (No. 129): LB Teddye Buchanan, California
Round 5 (No. 141): OT Carson Vinson, Alabama A&M
Round 6 (No. 178): CB Bilhal Kone, Western Michigan
Round 6 (No. 186): K Tyler Loop, Arizona
Round 6 (No. 203): WR LaJohntay Wester, Colorado
Round 6 (No. 210): DT Aeneas Peebles, Virginia Tech
Round 6 (No. 212): CB Robert Longerbeam, Rutgers
Round 7 (No. 243): OG Garrett Dellinger, LSU
Malaki Starks should not have been available at pick 27, but somehow, Baltimore scooped him up — and it feels like a perfect fit. Starks is a high-IQ safety who can guide a defense, lock down deep zones, and provide reliable tackling. It’s one of my favorite first-round picks from a talent and value standpoint.
In terms of pure talent, Mike Green might be an even bigger steal. Green is an insanely disruptive pass rusher who easily graded out as a top-15 prospect. However, the off-field issues surrounding sexual assault allegations made teams wary. The Ravens have said they did their homework and are comfortable with the pick — but that’s easier said than trusted.
Beyond those two, Baltimore grabbed a promising young tackle in Emery Jones Jr. and dove into a long string of Day 3 picks, many of which felt like minor reaches. The selection of kicker Tyler Loop will raise questions about the future of Justin Tucker, especially with his recent dip in production and looming legal concerns.
Overall, Baltimore found massive early value, but the later rounds felt less inspiring.
Grade: B
Buffalo Bills
Round 1 (No. 30): CB Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky
Round 2 (No. 41): DT T.J. Sanders, South Carolina
Round 3 (No. 72): EDGE Landon Jackson, Arkansas
Round 4 (No. 109): DT Deone Walker, Kentucky
Round 5 (No. 170): CB Jordan Hancock, Ohio State
Round 5 (No. 173): TE Jackson Hawes, Georgia Tech
Round 6 (No. 177): CB Dorian Strong, Virginia Tech
Round 6 (No. 206): OT Chase Lundt, Connecticut
Round 7 (No. 240): WR Kaden Prather, Maryland
It’s hard to find a more likable guy in this year’s draft than Maxwell Hairston, whose infectious smile and excitement in the green room didn’t go unnoticed. As a player, Hairston is a highly athletic corner who likely would have gone even higher had he not dealt with injury issues in his final year at Kentucky. He offers the Bills much-needed man coverage ability and ball-hawking upside.
On Day 2, Buffalo’s pick of T.J. Sanders felt like a reach. Sanders was a late bloomer at South Carolina and probably would have still been available later. However, grabbing Landon Jackson in the third round balanced it out — Jackson had a second-round grade for many and adds real juice to the defensive front.
Day 3 was quietly solid: Dorian Strong and Chase Lundt both offer upside and depth, and while they may not be instant impact players, they’ll be important contributors during the long NFL season.
Grade: B
Carolina Panthers
Round 1 (No. 8): WR Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona
Round 2 (No. 51): EDGE Nic Scourton, Texas A&M
Round 3 (No. 77): EDGE Princely Umanmielen, Mississippi
Round 4 (No. 114): RB Trevor Etienne, Georgia
Round 4 (No. 122): S Lathan Ransom, Ohio State
Round 5 (No. 140): DT Cam Jackson, Florida
Round 5 (No. 163): TE Mitchell Evans, Notre Dame
Round 6 (No. 208): WR Jimmy Horn Jr., Colorado
I love this draft for Carolina — straight up.
Tetairoa McMillan is a monster on the outside: big body, strong hands, rare combination of size and speed. Some people got down on him after a video surfaced of him talking about not watching much film, but with those concerns mostly quashed, McMillan is a perfect addition for Bryce Young’s development.
The Panthers then landed two strong edge rushers in Scourton and Umanmielen — players many had projected about 10 spots higher than where they went. Carolina needed to reload after trading Brian Burns, and these are smart shots at finding the next piece.
On Day 3, the pick of Lathan Ransom was one of my favorites — a physical, box-stuffing safety who fits the Panthers’ style perfectly. The only miss for me was Trevor Etienne. Feels like a slight reach, based more on pedigree (younger brother of Travis Etienne) than production.
Grade: A
Chicago Bears
Round 1 (No. 10): TE Colston Loveland, Michigan
Round 2 (No. 39): WR Luther Burden III, Missouri
Round 2 (No. 56): OT Ozzy Trapilo, Boston College
Round 2 (No. 62): DT Shemar Turner, Texas A&M
Round 4 (No. 132): LB Ruben Hyppolite II, Maryland
Round 5 (No. 169): CB Zah Frazier, UTSA
Round 6 (No. 195): OG Luke Newman, Michigan State
Round 7 (No. 233): RB Kyle Monangai, Rutgers
Many people loved what the Bears did this draft — and I mostly agree… except for their first-round pick.
TE Colston Loveland is a talented pass catcher with great footwork, hands, and size. No doubt he’ll be productive in the NFL. But Chicago already had a reliable TE in Cole Kmet, and they had way bigger needs elsewhere. If they had to go tight end, Tyler Warren would have been a more complete offensive weapon. Reports say Loveland was rising up boards late, but it still feels like a weird value at pick 10.
Beyond that, the Bears nailed the second round. Luther Burden is a first-round talent who fell mostly due to diva concerns — if he stays locked in, he’ll be a weapon. Trapilo and Turner are both strong picks for the trenches.
Day 3 was quieter, with Ruben Hyppolite feeling like a reach. But overall, a good draft helped by a very strong Day 2.
Grade: B+
Cincinnati Bengals
Round 1 (No. 17): EDGE Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M
Round 2 (No. 49): LB Demetrius Knight Jr., South Carolina
Round 3 (No. 81): OG Dylan Fairchild, Georgia
Round 4 (No. 119): LB Barrett Carter, Clemson
Round 5 (No. 153): OT Jalen Rivers, Miami
Round 6 (No. 193): RB Tahj Brooks, Texas Tech
The Bengals have bungled it again. There’s not a whole lot to be said about what the Bengals did here. Every one of their first three picks felt like a reach to me.
Many will disagree on Shemar Stewart, who has the physical tools to become a strong pass rusher — but his lack of college production is a big red flag. Demetrius Knight Jr. is already 26 years old, and while he could become a starter, that’s a huge risk for a second-round pick. Dylan Fairchild, like Stewart, is a good athlete but highly inconsistent.
The Bengals clearly prioritized traits and athletic upside over proven production, but when you’re drafting this risky with this little margin for error, the risk-reward ratio doesn’t compute.
Grade: D+
Cleveland Browns
Round 1 (No. 5): DT Mason Graham, Michigan
Round 2 (No. 33): LB Carson Schwesinger, UCLA
Round 2 (No. 36): RB Quinshon Judkins, Ohio State
Round 3 (No. 67): TE Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green
Round 3 (No. 94): QB Dillon Gabriel, Oregon
Round 4 (No. 126): RB Dylan Sampson, Tennessee
Round 5 (No. 144): QB Shedeur Sanders, Colorado
The Browns got Shedeur Sanders… just not where anyone expected them to.
Cleveland came into the draft facing questions about what they’d do at pick 5 — whether they’d take Travis Hunter, Abdul Carter, or maybe even swing big on Shedeur Sanders early.
Instead, the Browns made a smart trade with Jacksonville, dropping to 5, grabbing a future first-rounder, and still landing a top-5 player in Mason Graham. Graham is a wrecking ball in the middle — a true gap destroyer who should make Myles Garrett’s life even easier. Passing on Hunter is tough, but when you factor in future assets and need, Graham makes sense.
Day 2 was more mixed.
Carson Schwesinger, while a strong linebacker, feels like a slight reach at 33. Judkins is a true three-down back with explosive upside, but some scouts had teammate TreVeyon Henderson ranked higher. Harold Fannin could be a sneaky good tight end pick, especially with David Njoku’s injury history.
The Dillon Gabriel pick feels strange given the eventual Sanders pick later, but at that point in the draft, it’s hard to fault them for throwing darts at QB.
Shedeur Sanders’ slide reportedly stemmed from bad interviews and personality concerns. Still — getting a second-round talent in the fifth round is incredible value.
This could end up being a decade-defining draft for Cleveland.
Grade: A
Dallas Cowboys
Round 1 (No. 12): OG Tyler Booker, Alabama
Round 2 (No. 44): EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College
Round 3 (No. 76): CB Shavon Revel Jr., East Carolina
Round 5 (No. 149): RB Jaydon Blue, Texas
Round 5 (No. 152): LB Shemar James, Florida
Round 6 (No. 204): OT Ajani Cornelius, Oregon
Round 7 (No. 217): DT Jay Toia, UCLA
Round 7 (No. 239): RB Phil Mafah, Clemson
Round 7 (No. 247): DT Tommy Akingbesote, Maryland
Many expected Dallas to get flashy — it’s Jerry Jones, after all. But instead, the Cowboys had a surprisingly disciplined and effective draft.
Tyler Booker at 12 surprised some people, but given the late run on offensive linemen, grabbing a plug-and-play starter for the interior made perfect sense. Booker likely slots in immediately for retired All-Pro Zack Martin.
Meanwhile, Donovan Ezeiruaku and Shavon Revel were great value grabs. Revel comes with injury concerns, but offers real physicality and length on the outside. Ezeiruaku lacks ideal size but has excellent pass rush technique — a classic high-floor Day 2 pick.
Jaydon Blue and Shemar James are interesting Day 3 upside swings, but the real story for Dallas is the strength of their top two rounds.
Grade: A-
Denver Broncos
Round 1 (No. 20): CB Jahdae Barron, Texas
Round 2 (No. 60): RB RJ Harvey, UCF
Round 3 (No. 74): WR Pat Bryant, Illinois
Round 3 (No. 101): EDGE Sai’vion Jones, LSU
Round 4 (No. 134): EDGE Que Robinson, Alabama
Round 6 (No. 216): P Jeremy Crawshaw, Florida
Round 7 (No. 241): TE Caleb Lohner, Utah
The Broncos were a rumored landing spot for RB Omarion Hampton in the first round, but instead, they went BPA and snagged CB Jahdae Barron. Barron is a ballhawk who will pair beautifully with Patrick Surtain II. It’s a move that makes Denver’s secondary scary — and frankly, I loved the pick.
But the second-rounder, RJ Harvey, was a head-scratcher. Harvey projects as a rotational back, not a bellcow — and Denver passed on better running backs like Kaleb Johnson to take him.
The rest of the draft felt uninspired.
Pat Bryant feels like a special teams guy more than a true WR3. Jones and Robinson are decent gambles on athletic traits over production.
The punter pick (Jeremy Crawshaw) and the late tight end (Caleb Lohner) are fine, but overall this was a draft full of modest ceiling players.
Grade: C+
Detroit Lions
Round 1 (No. 28): DT Tyleik Williams, Ohio State
Round 2 (No. 57): OG Tate Ratledge, Georgia
Round 3 (No. 70): WR Isaac TeSlaa, Arkansas
Round 5 (No. 171): OG Miles Frazier, LSU
Round 6 (No. 196): EDGE Ahmed Hassanein, Boise State
Round 7 (No. 230): S Dan Jackson, Georgia
Round 7 (No. 244): WR Dominic Lovett, Georgia
The Lions were among the many teams that prioritized building the trenches in this draft.
The pick of Tyleik Williams makes sense from a need standpoint — Detroit wanted to beef up the middle. Williams should rotate in immediately against the run, but he does feel like a mild reach due to his limitations as a pass rusher.
Where Detroit really nailed it was with Tate Ratledge in the second round. Ratledge is exactly what you imagine when you think of a Dan Campbell player — nasty, physical, and ready to start Week 1.
Isaac TeSlaa felt like a reach, but Miles Frazier was a strong Day 3 pickup for depth. Ahmed Hassanein might not be a star, but he’s got the motor and attitude Campbell loves.
Overall, a solid but not spectacular draft for Detroit.
Grade: B-
Green Bay Packers
Round 1 (No. 23): WR Matthew Golden, Texas
Round 2 (No. 54): OT Anthony Belton, NC State
Round 3 (No. 87): WR Savion Williams, TCU
Round 4 (No. 124): EDGE Barryn Sorrell, Texas
Round 5 (No. 159): EDGE Collin Oliver, Oklahoma State
Round 6 (No. 198): DT Warren Brinson, Georgia
Round 7 (No. 237): CB Micah Robinson, Tulane
Round 7 (No. 250): OG John Williams, Cincinnati
With the draft being held in Green Bay, there was a lot of pressure on the Packers to deliver a memorable haul. And at first, it looked like they did — breaking tradition by taking WR Matthew Golden in the first round. Golden is a legit outside threat with blazing speed and polish — arguably the third-best receiver in the draft.
But the good vibes faded quickly.
The pick of Anthony Belton was a major reach, and the Day 3 picks (while interesting) don’t project many immediate contributors. Savion Williams has nice versatility but needs polish. Barryn Sorrell and Collin Oliver offer developmental EDGE depth but aren’t plug-and-play guys.
Ultimately, Packers fans will love the Golden pick, but overall, this wasn’t a particularly strong draft from top to bottom.
Grade: C
Houston Texans
Round 2 (No. 34): WR Jayden Higgins, Iowa State
Round 2 (No. 48): OT Aireontae Ersery, Minnesota
Round 3 (No. 79): WR Jaylin Noel, Iowa State
Round 3 (No. 97): CB Jaylin Smith, USC
Round 4 (No. 116): RB Woody Marks, USC
Round 6 (No. 187): S Jaylen Reed, Penn State
Round 6 (No. 197): QB Graham Mertz, Florida
Round 7 (No. 224): DT Kyonte Hamilton, Rutgers
Round 7 (No. 255): TE Luke Lachey, Iowa
Considering how the board fell, the Texans had about the best draft they reasonably could have.
The Vikings’ selection of Donovan Jackson at 24 likely caused Houston to trade out of the first round — smartly picking up additional third-rounders this year and next. Jayden Higgins is a prospect many were high on, drawing Nico Collins comparisons — so it makes sense Houston went after him.
Aireontae Ersery feels more like a necessity pick — one of the last offensive tackles offering immediate playing potential. Jaylin Noel and Jaylin Smith were two nice value picks on Day 3, and Jaylen Reed could become a solid bruising safety at the next level.
I might have liked to see Houston stay in the first round to grab an elite lineman or corner, but with the value they got overall, it’s a respectable haul.
Grade: B
Indianapolis Colts
Round 1 (No. 14): TE Tyler Warren, Penn State
Round 2 (No. 45): EDGE J.T. Tuimoloau, Ohio State
Round 3 (No. 80): CB Justin Walley, Minnesota
Round 4 (No. 127): OT Jalen Travis, Iowa State
Round 5 (No. 151): RB DJ Giddens, Kansas State
Round 6 (No. 189): QB Riley Leonard, Notre Dame
Round 6 (No. 190): DT Tim Smith, Alabama
Round 7 (No. 232): LB Hunter Wohler, Wisconsin
The Colts landed one of the best players in the entire draft at pick 14. Tyler Warren is a do-it-all, catch-and-run tight end who will immediately help Anthony Richardson. He can block, he can separate, he’s a YAC machine — exactly the kind of player you want to support a young QB.
Then they added J.T. Tuimoloau, a tough, motor-driven edge rusher who can set the edge and be a disruptive run defender even if he never becomes a double-digit sack guy.
The picks after that were less exciting.
Justin Walley projects as a slot corner — not worth a third-round pick in my view. Jalen Travis adds depth but not flash. Riley Leonard feels like just a backup QB flyer, not much upside.
Still, the top two picks make this class a success.
Grade: B-
Jacksonville Jaguars
Round 1 (No. 2): WR/CB Travis Hunter, Colorado
Round 3 (No. 88): CB Caleb Ransaw, Tulane
Round 3 (No. 89): OG Wyatt Milum, West Virginia
Round 4 (No. 104): RB Bhayshul Tuten, Virginia Tech
Round 4 (No. 107): LB Jack Kiser, Notre Dame
Round 6 (No. 194): LB Jalen McLeod, Auburn
Round 6 (No. 200): S Rayuan Lane III, Navy
Round 7 (No. 221): C Jonah Monheim, USC
Round 7 (No. 236): RB LeQuint Allen, Syracuse
The Jaguars made a splash, trading up to pick No. 2 and grabbing generational two-way star Travis Hunter.
Hunter is a phenomenal talent — but I don’t love the fit. Jacksonville isn’t one player away. They’re still rebuilding, and losing a future first-rounder in a deep 2026 draft to move up feels like bad process. Hunter is going to help them — likely starting at WR, with some CB work later — but without protection (suspect OL) and consistent QB play, it’s hard to maximize his impact.
Beyond that, the picks of Caleb Ransaw and Wyatt Milum were decent, but not enough to offset the heavy price they paid.
Hunter may be a superstar, but overall, the draft plan felt shaky.
Grade: C
Kansas City Chiefs
Round 1 (No. 32): OT Josh Simmons, Ohio State
Round 2 (No. 63): DT Omarr Norman-Lott, Tennessee
Round 3 (No. 66): EDGE Ashton Gillotte, Louisville
Round 3 (No. 85): CB Nohl Williams, California
Round 4 (No. 133): WR Jalen Royals, Utah State
Round 5 (No. 156): LB Jeffrey Bassa, Oregon
Round 7 (No. 228): RB Brashard Smith, SMU
The Chiefs pulled off one of the best small trades of the draft — moving back one spot to let Philly grab Jihaad Campbell — and still landed the player they wanted.
Josh Simmons is a first-round talent who only fell due to injury concerns (torn patellar tendon). If healthy, Simmons is an immediate impact lineman for a unit that badly needs help.
Norman-Lott and Royals are also two strong value picks: Norman-Lott brings interior pass rush ability, and Royals is a deep threat who can stretch defenses.
It’s a boom-or-bust class — lots of injury risk — but given where Kansas City is (needing immediate contributors for one more Super Bowl run), it’s the right gamble.
Grade: B
Las Vegas Raiders
Round 1 (No. 6): RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
Round 2 (No. 58): WR Jack Bech, TCU
Round 3 (No. 68): CB Darien Porter, Iowa State
Round 3 (No. 98): OG Caleb Rogers, Texas Tech
Round 3 (No. 99): OT Charles Grant, William & Mary
Round 4 (No. 108): WR Dont’e Thornton Jr., Tennessee
Round 4 (No. 135): DT Tonka Hemingway, South Carolina
Round 6 (No. 180): DT JJ Pegues, Mississippi
Round 6 (No. 213): WR Tommy Mellott, Montana State
Round 6 (No. 215): QB Cam Miller, North Dakota State
Round 7 (No. 222): LB Cody Lindenberg, Minnesota
Full disclosure — I’m a Raiders fan and excited about the Spytek-Carroll-Smith era. That said, I genuinely believe this draft looks like a masterclass.
Ashton Jeanty is a home-run pick at No. 6 — a rare every-down back who can run, catch, block, and produce right away.
Jack Bech is a thick, tough slot receiver with major RAC ability — perfect for a growing offense. Charles Grant and Caleb Rogers both offer upside at tackle and guard, respectively, and Darien Porter’s athleticism is off the charts.
Even Day 3 was full of interesting picks — especially Dont’e Thornton Jr., a size-speed freak.
Spytek is building a real foundation, and this class could be a huge cornerstone.
Grade: A
Los Angeles Chargers
Round 1 (No. 22): RB Omarion Hampton, North Carolina
Round 2 (No. 55): WR Tre Harris, Mississippi
Round 3 (No. 86): DT Jamaree Caldwell, Oregon
Round 4 (No. 125): EDGE Kyle Kennard, South Carolina
Round 5 (No. 158): WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith, Auburn
Round 5 (No. 165): TE Oronde Gadsden II, Syracuse
Round 6 (No. 199): OG Branson Taylor, Pittsburgh
Round 6 (No. 214): S R.J. Mickens, Clemson
Round 7 (No. 256): CB Trikweze Bridges, Florida
Jim Harbaugh made sure his first draft pick was a culture pick — big, physical, tough.
Omarion Hampton pairs with Najee Harris to create a bruising running back duo that should define the new Chargers’ offense. Tre Harris gives Justin Herbert another strong possession target who can win contested balls downfield. Kyle Kennard is a classic Harbaugh pick — not flashy, but a rugged, tough run defender who could develop into a solid rotational EDGE.
The late picks (Branson Taylor, Mickens) are fine depth additions, and Trikweze Bridges is a nice upside swing late.
This draft was about setting a tone for how Harbaugh wants this team to look and play — and it did exactly that.
Grade: B+
Los Angeles Rams
Round 2 (No. 46): TE Terrance Ferguson, Oregon
Round 3 (No. 90): EDGE Josaiah Stewart, Michigan
Round 4 (No. 117): RB Jarquez Hunter, Auburn
Round 5 (No. 148): DT Ty Hamilton, Ohio State
Round 5 (No. 172): LB Chris Paul Jr., Mississippi
Round 7 (No. 242): WR Konata Mumpfield, Pittsburgh
The Rams’ most important move didn’t show up on the pick list — trading out of the first round to grab Atlanta’s 2026 first-round pick. Even so, they made smart selections throughout this draft.
Terrance Ferguson is a big-bodied tight end who should eventually replace aging veterans. Josaiah Stewart was one of the best steals of the draft — a twitchy, handsy pass rusher who fits perfectly in L.A.’s scheme. Chris Paul Jr. also feels like a major steal — a highly intelligent every-down linebacker who slipped for reasons that aren’t super clear.
The Rams filled needs and added long-term depth, all while loading up for next year.
Smart, efficient work.
Grade: A
Miami Dolphins
Round 1 (No. 13): DT Kenneth Grant, Michigan
Round 2 (No. 37): OG Jonah Savaiinaea, Arizona
Round 5 (No. 143): DT Jordan Phillips, Maryland
Round 5 (No. 150): CB Jason Marshall Jr., Florida
Round 5 (No. 155): S Dante Trader Jr., Maryland
Round 6 (No. 179): RB Ollie Gordon II, Oklahoma State
Round 7 (No. 231): QB Quinn Ewers, Texas
Round 7 (No. 253): DT Zeek Biggers, Georgia Tech
The Dolphins knew they had to get tougher up front — and they attacked that need head-on.
Kenneth Grant is a monster in the middle — if Miami can keep his motor consistent, they have a game-changer. Jonah Savaiinaea likely moves inside from tackle and could start as a rookie, adding more muscle to a thin offensive line. The fifth-round defensive additions (Phillips, Marshall, Trader) add depth but probably won’t start right away.
The most interesting moves came late.
Ollie Gordon and Quinn Ewers both fell due to disappointing final college seasons, but both have real upside if the Dolphins can unlock it.
There’s some boom-or-bust in this class, but the plan made sense.
Grade: B
Minnesota Vikings
Round 1 (No. 24): OG Donovan Jackson, Ohio State
Round 3 (No. 102): WR Tai Felton, Maryland
Round 5 (No. 139): DL Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, Georgia
Round 6 (No. 201): LB Kobe King, Penn State
Round 6 (No. 202): TE Gavin Bartholomew, Pittsburgh
Limited picks, limited fireworks.
The Vikings made a strong first-round pick with Donovan Jackson, a flexible offensive lineman who handled left tackle duties at Ohio State but projects best inside at guard.
Tai Felton feels like a bit of a reach — he’s fast but raw, and lacks the physicality to win consistently off the line. Ingram-Dawkins is a developmental defensive lineman who could eventually crack the rotation. Kobe King adds depth at linebacker, and Gavin Bartholomew could stick as a blocking tight end.
All told, Minnesota did fine with what they had — but it’s nothing that moves the needle much.
Grade: C+
New England Patriots
Round 1 (No. 4): OT Will Campbell, LSU
Round 2 (No. 38): RB TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State
Round 3 (No. 69): WR Kyle Williams, Washington State
Round 3 (No. 95): C Jared Wilson, Georgia
Round 4 (No. 106): S Craig Woodson, California
Round 4 (No. 137): DT Joshua Farmer, Florida State
Round 5 (No. 146): EDGE Bradyn Swinson, LSU
Round 6 (No. 182): K Andres Borregales, Miami
Round 7 (No. 220): OT Marcus Bryant, Missouri
Round 7 (No. 251): LS Julian Ashby, Vanderbilt
Round 7 (No. 257): CB Kobee Minor, Memphis
This is easily one of my favorite draft classes of the year.
Will Campbell has All-Pro potential, even if he eventually has to kick inside to guard. TreVeyon Henderson was an absolute gift at 38 — a bellcow back who can run, catch, and block at a high level. Kyle Williams is a steady receiver who should quickly become a trusted target. Jared Wilson, Craig Woodson, and Joshua Farmer are all classic Patriots picks — tough, technically sound, high-floor players.
And while I normally don’t highlight specialists, Andres Borregales could quietly become a top-tier NFL kicker.
The Patriots nailed this draft from top to bottom.
Grade: A
New Orleans Saints
Round 1 (No. 9): OT Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas
Round 2 (No. 40): QB Tyler Shough, Louisville
Round 3 (No. 71): DL Vernon Broughton, Texas
Round 3 (No. 93): S Jonas Sanker, Virginia
Round 4 (No. 112): LB Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma
Round 4 (No. 131): CB Quincy Riley, Louisville
Round 6 (No. 184): RB Devin Neal, Kansas
Round 7 (No. 248): TE Moliki Matavao, UCLA
Round 7 (No. 254): EDGE Fadil Diggs, Syracuse
The Saints came into this draft with some mystery about which direction they’d go — and Kelvin Banks was a strong start. Banks is a fluid, powerful left tackle who should anchor the line for years to come, especially under a new offensive-minded coaching staff.
After that, though, things got weird.
Tyler Shough at 40 was arguably the most baffling pick of the entire draft. He’s talented, but he’s already 26, has an injury history, and didn’t exactly light it up at the college level.
The Broughton pick is a pure upside swing. Sanker feels like a reach for a likely special-teamer.
I like the Banks pick a lot — but overall, New Orleans didn’t inspire much confidence.
Grade: C-
New York Giants
Round 1 (No. 3): EDGE Abdul Carter, Penn State
Round 1 (No. 25): QB Jaxson Dart, Mississippi
Round 3 (No. 65): DT Darius Alexander, Toledo
Round 4 (No. 105): RB Cam Skattebo, Arizona State
Round 5 (No. 154): OT Marcus Mbow, Purdue
Round 7 (No. 219): TE Thomas Fidone II, Nebraska
Round 7 (No. 246): CB Korie Black, Oklahoma State
I’ve never been more torn by a Giants draft.
The pick of Abdul Carter was a slam dunk — an easy top-three player who can terrorize offenses for years.
Darius Alexander is a strong defensive tackle pickup, and Cam Skattebo is a fun bowling-ball back who could steal goal-line carries quickly. Even Marcus Mbow was great value in the fifth.
But this whole class comes down to Jaxson Dart.
The Giants gave up a second, third, and future third to move up and grab him. Dart has mobility, moxie, and leadership — but his arm talent is average, and his mechanics can get messy. He’ll need a very QB-friendly system to succeed.
If Dart hits, this draft could look brilliant. If he flops, it’ll be a brutal mistake.
Grade: B
New York Jets
Round 1 (No. 7): OT Armand Membou, Missouri
Round 2 (No. 42): TE Mason Taylor, LSU
Round 3 (No. 73): CB Azareye’h Thomas, Florida State
Round 4 (No. 110): WR Arian Smith, Georgia
Round 4 (No. 130): S Malachi Moore, Alabama
Round 5 (No. 162): LB Francisco Mauigoa, Miami
Round 5 (No. 176): EDGE Tyler Baron, Miami
The Jets played it smart — following the board while filling major needs.
Armand Membou is a great pick — the top tackle left on the board and an immediate plug-in on the offensive line. Mason Taylor fills a huge need at tight end, giving the Jets a polished receiving threat with pedigree (son of Jason Taylor). Azareye’h Thomas brings length and athleticism to the secondary — he needs technical work, but the tools are there. Malachi Moore and Francisco Mauigoa are nice value depth pieces.
Overall, a clean, sensible draft for New York.
Grade: A-
Philadelphia Eagles
Round 1 (No. 31): LB Jihaad Campbell, Alabama
Round 2 (No. 64): S Andrew Mukuba, Texas
Round 4 (No. 111): DT Ty Robinson, Nebraska
Round 5 (No. 145): CB Mac McWilliams, UCF
Round 5 (No. 161): LB Smael Mondon Jr., Georgia
Round 5 (No. 168): C Drew Kendall, Boston College
Round 6 (No. 181): QB Kyle McCord, Syracuse
Round 6 (No. 191): OT Myles Hinton, Michigan
Round 6 (No. 207): OT Cameron Williams, Texas
Round 6 (No. 209): EDGE Antwaun Powell-Ryland, Virginia Tech
Howie Roseman must have a deal with the draft gods — the Eagles always seem to come away with steals.
Jihaad Campbell at 31 was an incredible value — a fast, aggressive linebacker who can play all over. Andrew Mukuba is one of the smartest safeties in the class — a high-IQ player who will start early in Philly.
Their late-round picks (Williams, Powell-Ryland) are classic Eagles dart throws on high-upside trench players.
Philly cleaned up again, as usual.
Grade: A+
Pittsburgh Steelers
Round 1 (No. 21): DT Derrick Harmon, Oregon
Round 3 (No. 83): RB Kaleb Johnson, Iowa
Round 4 (No. 123): EDGE Jack Sawyer, Ohio State
Round 5 (No. 164): DT Yahya Black, Iowa
Round 6 (No. 185): QB Will Howard, Ohio State
Round 7 (No. 226): LB Carson Bruener, Washington
Round 7 (No. 229): CB Donte Kent, Central Michigan
This might be my favorite draft class of the year.
The Steelers passed on reaching for a QB early and instead loaded up on value. Derrick Harmon is a great heir apparent to Cam Heyward. Kaleb Johnson is a punishing three-down back who could thrive in Pittsburgh’s system.
Jack Sawyer is a high-motor, strong-handed EDGE who will be a great rotational piece early. Will Howard is a fine late-round swing at QB, and Carson Bruener was a nice value linebacker grab.
Pittsburgh played it smart, stuck to their identity, and got stronger across the board.
Grade: A+
San Francisco 49ers
Round 1 (No. 11): EDGE Mykel Williams, Georgia
Round 2 (No. 43): DT Alfred Collins, Texas
Round 3 (No. 75): LB Nick Martin, Oklahoma State
Round 3 (No. 100): CB Upton Stout, Western Kentucky
Round 4 (No. 113): DT CJ West, Indiana
Round 4 (No. 138): WR Jordan Watkins, Mississippi
Round 5 (No. 147): RB Jordan James, Oregon
Round 5 (No. 160): S Marques Sigle, Kansas State
Round 7 (No. 227): QB Kurtis Rourke, Indiana
Round 7 (No. 249): OG Connor Colby, Iowa
Round 7 (No. 252): WR Junior Bergen, Montana
This draft doesn’t read very well when you look at value vs. picks.
Mykel Williams is a boom-or-bust prospect — an athletic pass rusher who will need to bulk up to survive NFL tackles. Alfred Collins was a solid grab, but he’s more of a run stuffer than a dynamic interior rusher. Nick Martin and Upton Stout both felt like reaches — situational players at best.
Even the Day 3 dart throws (Watkins, James, Rourke) don’t inspire a lot of excitement.
This class feels like a value mismatch and a step back for San Francisco.
Grade: D+
Seattle Seahawks
Round 1 (No. 18): OG Grey Zabel, North Dakota State
Round 2 (No. 35): S Nick Emmanwori, South Carolina
Round 2 (No. 50): TE Elijah Arroyo, Miami
Round 3 (No. 92): QB Jalen Milroe, Alabama
Round 5 (No. 142): DL Rylie Mills, Notre Dame
Round 5 (No. 166): WR Tory Horton, Colorado State
Round 5 (No. 175): FB Robbie Ouzts, Alabama
Round 6 (No. 192): OG Bryce Cabeldue, Kansas
Round 7 (No. 223): RB Damien Martinez, Miami
Round 7 (No. 234): OT Mason Richman, Iowa
Round 7 (No. 238): WR Ricky White III, UNLV
Seattle finally invested heavily in the trenches — and it paid off.
Grey Zabel is a versatile, plug-and-play lineman who can fill in at guard or center. Nick Emmanwori is a perfect Seahawk — a big, physical safety with a tone-setting style that fans will love. Elijah Arroyo offers boom-or-bust athletic upside at tight end, and Jalen Milroe is a pure athlete at QB who will either develop nicely or flame out quickly.
The Day 3 picks were typical Seahawks swings: high upside, big motors, developmental types.
Good, tough, identity-driven draft for Seattle.
Grade: B+
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Round 1 (No. 19): WR Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State
Round 2 (No. 53): CB Benjamin Morrison, Notre Dame
Round 3 (No. 84): CB Jacob Parrish, Kansas State
Round 4 (No. 121): EDGE David Walker, Central Arkansas
Round 5 (No. 157): EDGE Elijah Roberts, SMU
Round 7 (No. 235): WR Tez Johnson, Oregon
Tampa Bay pivoted from need-based drafting to value grabs — and it worked pretty well.
Emeka Egbuka wasn’t a major need pick, but he adds serious explosion and depth to the WR room. Benjamin Morrison is a smart, physical corner who will fit well in Tampa’s press-heavy system. Jacob Parrish may end up better than Morrison — a feisty ballhawk who just needs coaching.
They waited too long to address EDGE, but overall, it was a solid haul.
Grade: B-
Tennessee Titans
Round 1 (No. 1): QB Cam Ward, Miami
Round 2 (No. 52): EDGE Oluwafemi Oladejo, UCLA
Round 3 (No. 82): S Kevin Winston Jr., Penn State
Round 4 (No. 103): WR Chimere Dike, Florida
Round 4 (No. 120): TE Gunnar Helm, Texas
Round 4 (No. 136): WR Elic Ayomanor, Stanford
Round 5 (No. 167): OG Jackson Slater, Sacramento State
Round 6 (No. 183): CB Marcus Harris, California
Round 6 (No. 188): RB Kalel Mullings, Michigan
The Titans bet big on Cam Ward — and it was the right move.
Ward brings electric playmaking ability to a stale offense. His arm strength, mobility, and creativity make him worth the No. 1 overall pick gamble.
Tennessee then followed it up with an athletic class full of upside. Oladejo is an intriguing pass-rushing convert. Kevin Winston Jr. is a versatile DB who can help immediately.
The fourth-round picks were a mixed bag, but Elic Ayomanor offers deep-ball explosiveness.
If Ward pans out, this draft could turn Tennessee around fast.
Grade: A
Washington Commanders
Round 1 (No. 29): OT Josh Conerly Jr., Oregon
Round 2 (No. 61): CB Trey Amos, Mississippi
Round 4 (No. 128): WR Jaylin Lane, Virginia Tech
Round 6 (No. 205): LB Kain Medrano, UCLA
Round 7 (No. 245): RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Arizona
Tough draft to love for Washington.
Josh Conerly Jr. wasn’t a bad player to take, but after trading for Laremy Tunsil, it feels redundant. Trey Amos was a nice value at corner — he should stick quickly in their secondary. Jaylin Lane offers explosive returner potential, and Kain Medrano could become a core special teamer.
But overall, not a ton of difference-makers were added.
Washington just didn’t have enough picks or enough impact talent.
Grade: C+
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