NFC North
Green Bay Packers
The Packers not taking a first-round receiver, again, made me laugh harder than anything else on draft weekend. I’m not the world’s biggest Christian Watson fan either, so this feels like a missed opportunity for Green Bay. You had two first round picks! You could have traded up! Alas, they did not. Quay Walker and Devonte Wyatt are nice I guess, but they won’t help Rodgers like George Pickens or Chris Olave would have. This class feels like a firework that never went off.
Grade: C
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears must wish Justin Fields were dead. This class sucks, and I’m not afraid to lay into them for it. The Bears’ offensive line and receiver group are nothing short of dreadful and they remedied that by taking two secondary players at No. 39 and No. 48. Chicago then opted for a receiver who is about to be 25 years old, and didn’t address offensive line until round five. Give me a break, Ryan Poles. You’re better than that.
Grade: D
Detroit Lions
I love Dan Campbell, dude. Aidan Hutchinson was the chalk pick at No. 2, but then the Lions flew off the rails, coming up twenty spots to draft Alabama’s game-changing receiver, Jameson Williams. The Lions are aggressive, they want to acquire talent, and they want electrifying players at premium positions. Not to mention, they got Josh Paschal in round two and then grabbed one of my favorites, Malcolm Rodriguez, on day three. This Lions team, and I mean this, is going places under this regime.
Grade: B+
Minnesota Vikings
As a Browns fan, it warms my heart to see Kwesi Adofo-Mensah absolutely kill it with his first draft. The Vikings had a great first two rounds especially, adding Georgia safety Lewis Cine at No. 32 and Andrew Booth at No. 34. Ed Ingram has some serious character concerns, but if he gets his life in order, that’s almost a sure-fire hit. Brian Asamoah at No. 66? That just isn’t fair. Minnesota gets my third perfect grade so far.
Grade: A+
NFC East
Dallas Cowboys
I think Tyler Smith was a huge reach at No. 24, and I haven’t been able to look past it for the rest of my assessment of this class. John Ridgeway is my favorite pick for their class, but he’s never going to be anything more than a space-eating run defender. I guess I like Jalen Tolbert a bit? Not a fan of this one.
Grade: D+
Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles nailed it on night one. I can’t say anything else. Jordan Davis at No. 13, then wheel and deal their way into trading No. 18 for A.J. Brown. Then on day two, they grab a Jason Kielce replacement in Cam Jargons, and then Nakobe Dean falls into their lap. I even think Grant Calcaterra could turn into something out of the sixth round. Are the Philadelphia Eagles… good? It’s more likely than you think.
Grade: A+
Washington Commanders
Jahan Dotson at No. 16 was a reach to end all reaches. I thought he might go near the end of day two, probably close to pick No. 100. I was stunned that Dotson even sniffed the first round. I’m pretty low on this class all things considered, but the Commanders getting Sam Howell in the fifth round strikes me as one of the best value picks of the draft. There was a time last year when I thought Howell might be the No. 1 pick in this class. Other than that and Brian Robinson Jr., though, I can’t say I love this.
Grade: C
New York Giants
The Giants, much like their stadium roommate Jets, destroyed this draft class on night one. Kayvon Thibodeaux was my No. 2 player in this class behind only Kyle Hamilton, and they got him at No. 5. Then, they spin around and get my top tackle in Evan Neal at No. 7. I don’t love what the Giants did with the rest of their picks, but they sure did take a lot of bites at that apple. Thibs and Neal are sure things in my eyes, and rarely do you ever get one sure thing in the NFL.
Grade: A-
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