What a wild first round of the NFL draft that was. A flurry of trades left mock drafts in shambles, and two star wide receivers find new homes for first-round picks. I graded each of the teams that either made a selection in the draft or traded out of one. The obvious winners of the night are the two New York teams and Baltimore. Meanwhile, Washington and Minnesota fans’ cries for help can be heard throughout the country.

Jacksonville Jaguars: C+

Picks: DE Travon Walker (No. 1), Devin Lloyd (No. 27)

The Jaguars got a good player in Travon Walker, but he is just nowhere near the best EDGE in this class. I have him outside of my top five personally, and I know multiple others did as well. Just really poor process here to me. They saved themselves a tad with the trade for Devin Lloyd, which was very cheap.

Detroit Lions: B+

Picks: DE Aidan Hutchinson (No. 2), WR Jameson Williams (No. 12)

Aidan Hutchinson is a really good pass rusher who is familiar with the area. Hutch starred at Michigan last year and was one of the bigger stars in college football last year. Hard to make a lot of complaints about this pick. The trade for Jameson Williams was really good value for them, and he goes to a near empty WR room.

Houston Texans: B

Picks: CB Derek Stingley Jr. (No. 3), IOL Kenyon Green (No. 15)

Derek Stingley Jr. is phenomenal and easily a top five player in this draft. After taking him, I had the Texans as an easy A, but the trade town is a bit bizarre. Passing on Kyle Hamilton to select a guard at 15 is a negative EV move, and their grade moves down slightly for it.

New York Jets: A+

Picks: CB Sauce Gardner (No. 4), WR Garrett Wilson (No. 10), DE Jermaine Johnson II (No. 26)

The Jets had a phenomenal draft, getting Garrett Wilson and Sauce Gardner without having to move at all was considered crazy. They then move up in the draft to select the EDGE they had near the top of their board in Jermaine Johnson II.

New York Giants: A+

Picks: DE Kayvon Thibodeaux (No. 5), OT Evan Neal (No. 7)

Both teams in New York had two picks in the top 10, and they both nailed them. The Giants got the top EDGE in this class and a phenomenal tackle, and they didn’t have to give up any capital.

Carolina Panthers: B-

Picks: OT Ikem Ekwonu (No. 6)

I don’t think the Panthers expected to be able to choose between the tackles they wanted here. They get their choice and select Ikem Ekwonu to be their franchise left tackle. I had Neal slightly ahead of Ekwonu, but there is nothing wrong with either player. 

Atlanta Falcons: C-

Picks: WR Drake London (No. 8)

The Falcons get the position they wanted and got their pick of the litter. I personally don’t think Drake London is the best WR in this class, so the grade reflects my own personal grade. There is still a chance he forms a potent duo with Kyle Pitts.

Seattle Seahawks: D+

Picks: OT Charles Cross (No. 9)

Good positional value here, but a terrible fit for Seattle’s scheme. The Seahawks needed a better run blocker here, and Cross is a true pass protector from a Mike Leach system. He may well develop into a franchise left tackle, but they seem to have mistaken positional need for scheme fit.

New Orleans Saints: B

Picks: WR Chris Olave (No. 11), OT Trevor Penning (No. 19)

The Saints get both of the guys I think they wanted originally at 16 and 18. They had to move up a bit for Chris Olave, but the value was not bad at all. I’m not a believer in Trevor Penning, but offensive line was a position of need.

Philadelphia Eagles: A-

Picks: DT Jordan Davis (No. 13)

Jordan Davis is not great value position wise, but a dominant player. But getting AJ Brown for No. 18 is great because he’s better than any of the WRs available by far. The Eagles lose a bit of their day two and three capital, but I don’t think they care at all.

Baltimore Ravens: A

Picks: S Kyle Hamilton (No. 14), IOL Tyler Linderbaum (No. 25)

The Ravens got two players I have ranked in the top seven in this class, and they got them at picks 14 and 25. This was another masterclass draft by the Ravens. Positional value does not matter here as they get the top players at their position well after they were projected to go.

Washington Commanders: D-

Picks: WR Jahan Dotson (No. 16)

Passing on the chance to get what was thought to be the top two players on their realistic board in Kyle Hamilton and Chris Olave was surprising. Doing it for modest draft capital was even more so, and doing it to take Jahan Dotson at pick 16 was downright shocking.

Los Angeles Chargers: B-

Picks: IOL Zion Johnson (No. 17)

With Jordan Davis off of the board, the Chargers’ focus immediately shifted to offensive line help. They opt to go for the interior here and get a very good player in Zion Johnson. Perhaps a small reach here, but they get a good player at a position of need.

Tennessee Titans: C

Picks: WR Treylon Burks (No. 18)

The Titans get their AJ Brown replacement in Treylon Burks. He instantly steps in as their WR1-A next to Robert Woods. The value isn’t terrible, but it feels more like a pick out of necessity than a pick to get a guy they want.

Pittsburgh Steelers: B+

Picks: QB Kenny Pickett (No. 20)

The Steelers are winners largely by doing nothing. The talk in the lead up was how much the Steelers would have to trade up to get their choice of QB, and they got their choice at 20 without giving up any capital. Kenny Pickett was my personal QB1 so I like the pick, but time will be the only true tell of the result here.

Kansas City Chiefs: B+

Picks: CB Trent McDuffie (No. 21), DE George Karlaftis (No. 30)

The Chiefs very quietly have a very good start to the draft. Not splashy picks, but they get good players that both probably should have gone earlier. They still need help in the WR room, but there is talent available in the second and third rounds.

Green Bay Packers: C+

Picks: LB Quay Walker (No. 22), DT Devonte Wyatt (No. 28)

The value is fine for both of these picks, and the Packers are known to be strict followers of their big board. It’s still absolutely shocking they don’t leave the first round with a wide receiver given the talent they currently have. These picks bolster their defense fairly substantially.

Buffalo Bills: B-

Picks: CB Kaiir Elam (No. 23)

The Bills have to jump two spots to grab the guy they wanted in Kaiir Elam, but like most of the small trade ups in this draft, it cost so little on the back end I’m almost not even factoring it in. Elam is talented and brings them some much-needed help in the defensive backfield.

Dallas Cowboys: C-

Picks: OT Tyler Smith (No. 24)

The Cowboys are losers this draft in the opposite way that the Steelers are winners. They waited to see what fell to them and lost likely their top two picks at guard when they went earlier than expected. Tyler Smith is a fine player, but the Cowboys had to reach a little to match positional needs.

New England Patriots: D

Picks: IOL Cole Strange (No. 29)

It was just a bizarre pick here. The positional need fits, but Cole Strange feels like a guy who almost certainly would’ve been available at 54. Either they know something no one else does, or this was a massive reach.

Cincinnati Bengals: B

Picks: S Daxton Hill (No. 31)

The reigning AFC champions do well for themselves here. In Daxton Hill, they add a do-it-all safety who probably should have been selected a few picks earlier. Personally, I think they had bigger needs in the trenches, but this is a good pick regardless.

Minnesota Vikings: F

Picks: S Lewis Cine (No. 32)

This is more a grade based off of the trade. On its own, Lewis Cine at 32 is an expected landing spot. When you factor in that they traded down 20 spots with a division rival, it becomes an awful pick.

Teams who did not make a selection but traded out:

Arizona Cardinals: B

The Cardinals’ main goal tonight was to make Kyler Murray happy. I believe they did that by going out and acquiring a proven talent in Hollywood Brown. They also add a late third in the deal, which gives them a chance to take a bigger risk in the middle rounds.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: C+

The Bucs acquired a modest haul for trading out of 27 so Jacksonville could select Lloyd. If they had no one on their board they thought was worth the pick, the trade is fine, but I can’t help but feel like they should have gotten more for it. Regardless, they came out ahead on the trade value chart, so a modest win for them here.