The NFL Draft has passed, the future of many NFL organizations rests on the young and talented shoulders of those selected in rounds 1-7. Many teams did well in this year’s draft, but the teams mentioned with A grades drafted players on all 3 days that will start immediately, compete for a starting spot in year 1, or be a developmental piece that should help out on special teams early on. The teams with D grades failed to significantly improve their rosters or reached on prospects expected to go later in the draft. (Teams without a first round pick were excluded.)

Baltimore Ravens – Grade: A+

Picks: 

Round 1 – Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame

Round 1 – Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa

Round 2 – David Ojabo, Edge, Michigan

Round 3 – Travis Jones, DT, UCONN

Round 4 – Daniel Faalele, OT, Minnesota

Round 4 – Jalyn Armour-Davis, CB, Alabama

Round 4 – Charlie Kolar, TE, Iowa State

Round 4 – Jordan Stout, K/P, Penn State

Round 4 – Isaiah Likely, TE, Coastal Carolina

Round 4 – Damarion Williams, CB, Houston

Round 6 – Tyler Badie, RB, Missouri

The Ravens took future star S Kyle Hamilton with the 14th pick in the 1st round. After trading away Marquise Brown to the Cardinals, Baltimore selected C Tyler Linderbaum out of Iowa. From David Ojabo in the 2nd round to Travis Jones in the 3rd, the Ravens were able to draft 4 players in the first three rounds that should all start as rookies. TE Charlie Kolar will learn and develop behind Mark Andrews, and Likely is another player that could catch passes from Lamar Jackson a few years down the road. The best value pick was RB Tyler Badie, who impressed at the Senior Bowl workouts and will be a nice depth piece. Overall, the Baltimore Ravens couldn’t have asked for a better draft.

New York Jets – Grade: A+

Picks:

Round 1 – Ahmad Gardner, CB, Cincinnati

Round 1 – Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State

Round 1 – Jermaine Johnson, EDGE, Florida State 

Round 2 – Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State

Round 3 – Jeremy Ruckert, TE, Ohio State

Round 4 – Max Mitchell, OT, Louisiana

Round 4 – Micheal Clemons, EDGE, Texas A&M

The NY Jets had the best first round out of any team in the NFL. Cincinnati CB Sauce Gardner and Ohio State WR Garrett Wilson both have future Pro-Bowl potential. The Jets traded up for EDGE Jermaine Johnson who was somehow still on the board at pick No. 26. Then in the second round, New York traded up for Breece Hall, the best RB in the draft. Johnson and Hall should start right away. In short, the Jets, like the Ravens, selected 4 players in the first 3 rounds that should start from day 1 and help New York win a lot more games next season. Max Mitchell out of Louisiana was another nice pickup, drafted in the 4th round, who could see the field as an OG at the next level. This draft class might go down as the best Jets rookie class of all time, and it’s not even close. 

Tennessee Titans – Grade: A

Picks:

Round 1 – Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas

Round 2 – Roger McCreary, CB, Auburn

Round 3 – Nicholas Petit-Frere, OT, Ohio State

Round 3 – Malik Willis, QB, Liberty

Round 4 – Hassan Haskins, RB, Michigan

Round 4 – Chigoziem Okonkwo, TE, Maryland

Round 5 – Kyle Philips, WR, UCLA

Round 6 – Theo Jackson, CB, Tennessee

Round 6 – Chance Campbell, LB, Ole Miss

Yes, the Titans traded away A.J. Brown, but the Tennessee front office drafted Treylon Burks with the 18th pick. Burk’s pro-comparison happens to be A.J. Brown, but with better gadget ability, the former Razorback WR has a higher ceiling. Looking at what the Titans did as a whole, Tennessee has one of the deepest draft classes. CB Roger McCreary will be a good starter, and Petit-Frere from Ohio State should fight for a starting spot on the offensive line immediately. Hassan Haskins, Chigoziem Okonkwo, and Kyle Philips are all day 3 draftees that add depth to a lackluster Titans offense. The best pick was QB Malik Willis at No. 86 overall. Willis has the highest upside among the QB class and projects as a Lamar Jackson type player.

Kansas City Chiefs – Grade: A 

Picks:

Round 1 – Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington

Round 1 – George Karlaftis, EDGE, Purdue

Round 2 – Skyy Moore, WR, Western Michigan

Round 2 – Bryan Cook, S, Cincinnati

Round 3 – Leo Chanel, LB, Wisconsin

Round 4 – Joshua Williams, DB, Fayetteville State 

Round 5 – Darian Kinnard, OT, Kentucky

Round 7 – Jaylen Watson, CB, Washington State

Round 7 – Isaih Pacheco, RB, Rutgers

Round 7 – Nazeeh Johnson, S, Marshall

The Chiefs traded up to take CB Trent McDuffie at No. 21. Then George Karlaftis fell to KC at No. 30. Both McDuffie and Karlaftis should start immediately. WR Skyy Moore should fill the slot role nicely for the Chiefs and is a possible Offensive Rookie of the Year Candidate. S Bryan Cook and ILB Leo Chanel are both good players that will fight for starting roles as rookies. After addressing a dire position of need at CB with Duffie in the first round, Kansas City selected two more CBs in the later rounds to add depth to their roster. Rutgers RB Isaih Pacheco will outperform the expectations of a player drafted in the 7th round. Even after trading Pro-Bowl WR Tyreek Hill to Miami, the Chiefs offense should remain a dominant unit. The defense should improve drastically as well.

Green Bay Packers – Grade: A-

Picks:

Round 1 – Quay Walker, LB, Georgia

Round 1 – Devonte Wyatt, DT, Georgia

Round 2 – Christian Watson, WR, North Dakota State

Round 3 – Sean Rhyan, OT, UCLA

Round 4 – Romeo Doubs, WR, Nevada

Round 4 – Zach Tom, OT, Wake Forest

Round 5 – Kingsley Enagbare, EDGE, South Carolina

Round 7 – Tariq Carpenter, S/LB, Georgia Tech

Round 7 – Jonathan Ford, DT, Miami

Round 7 – Rasheed Walker, OT, Penn State

Round 7 – Samori Toure, WR, Nebraska

Green Bay’s front office did not take a wide receiver in the first round. With the 22nd overall pick, the Packers added ILB Quay Walker, a player that projects as a more athletic De’Vondre Campbell. Then Green Bay double-dipped in the “Freaky Athletic Georgia Defenders” pool by taking IDL Devonte Wyatt at pick No. 28. In the second round, Green Bay traded up and selected WR Christian Watson at No. 34 overall, another early Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate. The Packers offense will take a step back with Davante Adams gone, but GB added offensive line depth and addressed the WR position. Kingsley Enagbare was a great value pick at No. 179, a player that was mocked in the top 100. Aaron Rodgers relied almost too heavily on Davante Adams in key situations last season. Force feeding Adams the ball worked during the regular season, but even in the playoffs when Adams was double teamed, Rodgers threw him the ball. Removing Adams from the equation will make Aaron Rodgers spread the ball around and throw to the open man.

Washington Commanders – Grade: D

Picks:

Round 1 – Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State

Round 2 – Phidarian Mathis, DT, Alabama

Round 3 – Brian Robinson Jr., RB, Alabama

Round 4 – Percy Butler, S, Louisiana

Round 5 – Sam Howell, QB, North Carolina

Round 5 – Cole Turner, TE, Nevada

Round 7 – Chris Paul, OL, Tulsa

Round 7 – Christian Holmes, CB, Oklahoma State

The Washington Commanders selected Jahan Dotson with the 16th overall pick. Datson is a solid WR, but was mocked as a late first rounder to early day 2 draft pick and projects as a WR2. That being said, Dotson should compliment Terry McLaurin well. The selections of DT Phidarian Mathis and RB Brian Robinson, both out of Alabama, were underwhelming picks. These players may see the field occasionally, but look more like depth pieces. While the Commanders addressed multiple positions of need, Washington’s grade reflects my opinion on their selections on day 2 and 3. The Commander’s best value pick was QB Sam Howell in the 5th round, who like many of the other quarterbacks, should have gone in the 2nd or 3rd round.

New England Patriots – Grade: D-

Picks:

Round 1 – Cole Strange, G, Chattanooga

Round 2 – Tyquan Thornton, WR, Baylor

Round 3 – Marcus Jones, CB, Houston

Round 4 – Jack Jones, CB, Arizona State

Round 4 – Pierre Strong Jr., RB, South Dakota State

Round 4 – Bailey Zappe, QB, Western Kentucky

Round 5 – Kevin Harris, RB, South Carolina

Round 6 – Sam Roberts, DL, Northwest Missouri State

Round 6 – Chasen Hines, G, LSU

Round 7 – Andrew Stueber, OT, Michigan

The Patriots picked OG Cole Strange at No. 29. Strange wasn’t mocked in the first and on most Big Boards, the Chattanooga prospect didn’t crack the top 100. New England’s first round pick was the worst selection on day 1. Second round pick, Tyquan Thornton, ran the fastest 40-yard dash at the combine, but was still a reach at No. 50 overall. Granted both Strange and Thornton could start as rookies, but the Patriots lack OL and WR depth. New England had a better day 3, selecting CBs Marcus Jones and Jack Jones to bolster a weak CB room now without J.C. Jackson. RB Pierre Strong Jr. is another small school player who’s route running prowess out of the backfield will please Bill Belichick. Stop letting Belichick draft! New England’s draft grade would be an F if not for their later picks.