NFL Draft First Round Grades

1) Raiders: Fernando Mendoza - A

Some people thought the Raiders should have traded out of this pick. Not me. I think Mendoza will be an excellent NFL QB.

 

2) Jets: David Bailey - A

Hard for the Jets to go wrong here. I thought they would take Reese, but they needed a pass rush and got the guy who is known for pass rushing. Good job.

 

3) Cardinals: Jeremiyah Love - C+

Love the player, hate the pick. I thought Arizona should have traded out. The only reason to go with this is if you received no solid offers. Love is now the highest paid RB in the league. Arizona has no QB and a whole lot of nothing else on this roster. Even Marvin Harrison Jr is kind of ass. They needed assets. The only reason this isn’t a D is because I’m an ND fan.

 

4) Titans: Carnell Tate - B+

I was shocked the Titans didn’t go defense here, especially with Saleh as their HC. Really thought Styles was the best move, but I don’t hate helping out your young QB. I’m a Cam Ward fan and watched way too many Titans games. His weapons were terrible. Calvin Ridley is not a serious player. Tennessee needs a lot, but getting the best WR in the draft was a solid move.

 

5) Giants: Arvell Reese - B

I love the player but unsure about the pick. I think it was impossible for them to pass on Reese given that he was not expected to be available at 5, but they have addressed the defensive front in the past few years. The Giants are not trading Thibodeaux so they now have him, Brian Burns and Abdul Carter Jr. It’s a loaded bunch, but similar to other bad teams, they need a lot of help elsewhere.

 

6) Chiefs: Mansoor Delane - B-

The only Draft bet I hit last night was the Chiefs to draft DB first (+300) so I’m glad they addressed one of their biggest needs. The only reason I don’t love the pick more is because they had to trade a 3rd and a 5th to get there. Overall, smart pick for KC.

 

7) Commanders: Sonny Styles A+

Absolutely LOVE this pick for the Commanders. Their defense is getting old and needs a new leader. This is a home run for Washington.

 

8) Saints: Jordyn Tyson - C+

I understand Tyson is a good player and the Saints could use a WR, but I thought there were much better options on the board, or they could have traded out. The Tyson steam came late after a workout at Arizona State. He is injury prone, as is Chris Olave. I like any team helping out their young QB and adding weapons, but this would not have been my first choice.

 

9) Browns: Spencer Fano - A

Cleveland trades back and still gets a stud OL to address a huge position of need. Bravo Browns! A little cute picking Fano over Mauigoa? Time will tell, but I can’t pretend I know enough to have a strong opinion on which big guy is better.

 

10) Giants: Francis Mauigoa - A

Some were calling him the best OL in the draft. To get him at pick 10 is a home run every time. While I am not all the way in love with Reese just purely for the fit, I do think the Giants nailed this pick.

 

11) Cowboys: Caleb Downs - A+

The NFC East is on fucking fire! What a snag for the Cowboys. Jerry is getting old and wants to get a SB before he dies. Or at the very least, not be pathetic. Dallas made some bold moves on defense last season and now they got one of the best defensive players in the draft at 11. You have to be elated if you’re a Dallas fan.

 

12) Dolphins: Kadyn Proctor - A

I think Miami needs an identity change, and this a great start in doing so. The days of being the pretty boys from South Florida who are all finesse with their turquoise jerseys not being able to win in cold weather need to be a thing of the past. Rebuilding with beefy lineman from Alabama was an excellent move for the Fins.

 

13) Rams: Ty Simpson - D+

What the fuck is this? I thought about giving it an F, but I do like Ty Simpson as a project, and that’s exactly what the Rams are doing here. Investing in the future. But was that really the best move? LA is a win-now team. Sure they have an old aging QB, but the guy just won a fucking MVP and still has a few years left. McVay clearly looks annoyed that the Rams went this route in the post draft interviews. I’m with him on this - they should have added a weapon here.

 

14) Ravens: Olaivavega Ione - A

Beefy lineman in Baltimore is always a good move.

 

15) Buccaneers: Reuben Bain - A+

The steal of the draft! How did Bain fall so far? “Short arms” per the experts. Ha, I pity the fools who let this absolute DAWG fall to Todd Bowles. 

 

16) Jets: Kenyon Sadiq - C+

Love the player, hate the pick. Did the Jets really need to draft another TE after getting Mason Taylor last year in the second round? I don’t think so, but I do really love Sadiq. This guy is a freak. The Jets offensive depth chart is not all that pathetic, but their defense is still pretty miserable even with Bailey at #2. Don’t love it, but don’t hate it.

 

17) Lions: Blake Miller - A

Jared Goff is horrific under pressure. The Lions needed OL badly even if Taylor Decker didn’t retire. Everyone raves about Miller making 54 starts in college. The Lions need a guy that’s durable and they got one. Solid pick.

 

18) Vikings: Caleb Banks - F

Who the fuck is this guy? I know the Vikings have a new GM, but they are up to their same old ways of getting cute. I guess they did need interior DL so addressing a position of need makes sense, and was the only reason I didn’t give this an F-. 

 

19) Panthers: Monroe Freeling - A+

I gave this an A+ because it’s the only pick in my mock draft I got right. The Panthers are smart and draft well. Business as usual here. 

 

20) Eagles: Makai Lemon - A

Philly traded up to get my favorite WR in the draft. Excellent job by Howie and the boys, especially if the rumors are true that they’ll be trading AJ Brown. Some interview clips of Lemon do have me a little concerned but overall, I think he’s one of the most dangerous offensive players to come out. A gift for the Eagles and worth trading up a few spots for.

 

21) Steelers: Max Iheanachor - B-

Not sexy, but needed. I’m always good with building in the trenches. The question for Pittsburgh is who are they building for? No idea who the QB is but I guess he should have some decent pocket protection once found.

 

22) Chargers: Akheem Mesidor - B+

Mesidor was a bit overshadowed by Bain at Miami but if you watch him play, you’ll see that the Chargers got a stud. This guy plays fast and has a nose for the ball. Great get here.

 

23) Cowboys: Malachi Lawrence - B

Keeping adding to that defense Jerry and I might fuck around with a Cowboys to win the Super Bowl ticket before July!

 

24) Browns: KC Concepcion - A

My second favorite receiver in the draft. I think the Browns crushed it with acquiring some picks and still getting two very good players and positions of need. KC over longest reception could legitimately hit in every game.

 

25) Bears: Dillon Thieneman - C

Maybe I don’t know the Bears all that well because I thought they could have used pass rush more than secondary. With Keldric Faulk still available, that would have been my move.

 

26) Texans: Keylan Rutledge - B

Don’t know shit about this guy but I had the Texans going O-line, so good job I guess.

 

27) Dolphins: Chris Johnson - B+

Don’t know shit about this guy either but I saw Liam Blutman tweet that he loves Chris Johnson and the Dolphins certainly needed DBs, so good job Miami.

 

28) Patriots: Caleb Lomu - D

Can the Patriots be trusted drafting another OT in the first round? Will Campbell looks like he’s got bust potential. Caleb Lomu was projected to be drafted higher, so I guess the pick makes sense. I had them going pass rush.

 

29) Chiefs: Peter Woods - A

Love the Chiefs getting aggressive and stacking up defensive players. 

 

30) Jets: Omar Cooper - A

The Jets made their way back into the draft for the third first round pick, and I love it. Still not entirely sure they needed to go Sadiq so high but again, this offensive depth chart is looking pretty solid.

 

31) Titans: Keldrick Faulk - B+

Tennessee needed some defense since they went WR at #4, so this was a good move. Faulk was the best pass rusher left on everyone’s big board, so they made a move to get Saleh a young project with tons of potential. I like it.

 

32) Seahawks: Jadarian Price - A+

An absolute STUD for Seattle at pick 32. Yes I’m biased because I’m a Notre Dame fan, but I am telling you right now - this was the best RB2 since Cadillac Williams. Job well done!