2022 NFL Draft Team Grades

The 2022 Draft has come and gone and now we have to see which teams got better and which teams just blew it in the draft. We give every team a draft grade and explain how we thought each team did in the draft.

Arizona Cardinals, C+

The Cardinals had some big needs in this draft, but with their first pick, they drafted a TE. I get that he is the best TE in this draft class, but when you already extended Zach Ertz this offseason, the TE postion was not a need. Even before D-Hop was suspended, they still needed a WR and failed to draft one at all. Now D-Hop is suspended and they are likely kicking themselves for not doing so, but thank god they traded for Hollywood Brown draft night. They did draft 2 Edge players in Thomas and Sanders, which was a need after the departure of Chandler Jones, so you have to give them props there. Other than that, there were no other picks that really stood out to me, but Ingram will compete with Eno Benjamin for the backup role behind James Conner.

Players Drafted: Trey McBride, TE; Cameron Thomas, Edge; Myjai Sanders, Edge; Keontay Ingram, RB; Lecitus Smith, OL; Christian Matthew, CB; Jesse Luketa, LB; Marquiz Hayes, OL

Primary Team Needs: CB, Edge, WR
Secondary Team Needs: RB, OL, CB, S

Atlanta Falcons, A-

It’s tough to evaluate the Falcons draft, as a team with a lot of holes ot fill, but they did a commendable job in adding some prospects who should be able to help the team get back on track in a tough NFC South division. Their first pick, Drake London, immediately gives Atlanta a dynamic WR who can fill the void left after Ridley’s suspension. Then they added a talented edge rusher in Ebiketie, hopefully shoring up the defense who has struggled the last few seasons. They also added Troy Anderson, who they must be hoping will fill the gap in their LB corps left by departed All Pro caliber Foye Oluokon. Then they took Desmond Ridder, who some people had mocked as high as a first round pick, who will likely back up Mariota as the Falcons work to develop him into a more viable and polished NFL QB, which we have seen to be a great strategy for long term QB success in the league. They rounded out their draft by adding a RB in Tyler Allgeier, which at the time seemed odd, right up until they released Mike Davis a couple days later. With him out of the picture, Allgeier actually finds himself in a spot where he could see significant reps. Overall, a solid draft with big upside for a team that needed to have a good draft if they wanted to be competitive in 2022.

Players Drafted: Drake London, WR; Arnold Ebiketie, Edge; Troy Anderson, LB; Desmond Ridder, QB; DeAngelo Malone, LB; Tyler Allgeier, RB; Justin Shaffer, OG; John FitzPatrick, TE

Primary Team Needs: Edge, WR, QB, S, LB
Secondary Team Needs: OL, RB, DL, TE, CB

Baltimore Ravens, A

While Safety may not be one of the premier positions in the league in 2022, the Baltimore Ravens started off their draft hot by drafting arguably one of the best players in this draft, Kyle Hamilton. Hamilton will slot in as a mainstay for years to come along with their 2nd selection in Tyler Linderbaum who was this years best interior lineman. The Ravens continued to find great prospects round after round and filled nearly every whole they had. Ojabo took a slide in the draft due to an injury sustained at his pro day, yet he fits perfectly into the Ravens defense along with Travis Jones who will rotate often on the defensive line. The Ravens also filled in depth in their secondary, depth at Tight End, and nabbed a later round running back that may see the field early with most of their better running backs coming off season long injuries last year. There could not have been a better outcome for the Ravens this year.

Players Drafted: Kyle Hamilton, S; Tyler Linderbaum, OL; David Ojabo, LB; Travis Jones, DL; Daniel Faalele, OT; Jalyn Armour-Davis, CB; Charlie Kolar, TE; Jordan Stout, P; Isaiah Likely, TE; Damarion Williams, CB; Tyler Badie, RB

Primary Team Needs: DL, Edge, CB, OL
Secondary Team Needs: OT, WR, RB

Buffalo Bills, A-

I love what the Bills did. They traded a few spots up and drafted CB Kaiir Elam, who TSF loved going into the draft. Then in the 2nd round, they pick up James Cook, who should have that third down role for Buffalo starting Week 1. Other than that, they did not have a lot of needs, but they kept adding depth to the positions where they are already strong. I am not sure about a punter being picked for a team who goes for it on 4th down on the regular, but I will not knock them for that.

Players Drafted: Kaiir Elam, CB; James Cook, RB; Terrel Bernard, LB; Khalil Shakir, WR; Matt Araiza, P; Christian Benford, CB; Luke Tenuta, OT; Baylon Spector, LB

Primary Team Needs: CB, WR
Secondary Team Needs: RB, OL

Carolina Panthers, B

Carolina didn’t have a lot of high end draft capital, but the pick they had they made the most of. Taking Ickey Ekwonu at #6 should fill a big hole for them, and he will contribute from day one. I hold no grudge against them for not taking Evan Neal, if Ekwonu was their guy, so be it, there was not much to separate the two OL. They didn’t have another pick until late in the third, where they took Matt Corral, who is an interesting prospect, but is not quite NFL ready yet. So playing behind Sam Darnold (or whoever else they may bring in) could be for the best while he refines his game a bit. They spent the rest of their late picks on a couple of LBs, another OL, and a DB, all of whom will be solid depth pieces with good upside, but not likely day one starters. Overall, a fine job, but not a draft that really blows the doors off.

Players Drafted: Ikem Ekwonu, OT; Matt Corral, QB; Brandon Smith, LB; Amare Barno, LB; Cade Mays, OL; Kalon Barner, CB

Primary Team Needs: OT, QB
Secondary Team Needs: OL, DL, Edge, LB, WR, TE

Chicago Bears, B+

The Chicago Bears were pretty quiet in Free Agency this year and were set to start the draft with not much draft capital to improve their team, yet after the draft you can see some improvement. To start, you can see they focused on their secondary, selecting underrated CB Kyler Gordon and one of the best Safties in Jaquan Brisker. Both should be able to rotate in and contribute early on in the season, and should help establish a strong area of focus in a Matt Eburflus system. They followed up the 2nd round picks with a 3rd round WR who is pretty scrappy on tape and notably fast. Velus Jones Jr. should be a returner for this team and will contribute here and there in the passing game. The Bears drafted four offensive linemen in total, bringing some much needed depth at the position, and odds are one of them could become a full time starter. All in all this was a solid draft for a team with little capital coming in.

Players Drafted: Kyler Gordon, CB; Jaquan Brisker, S; Velus Jones Jr., WR; Brazton Jones, OT; Dominique Robinson, LB; Zachary Thomas, OT; Trestan Ebner, RB; Doug Kramer, OL; J’atyre Carter, OL; Elijah Hicks, S; Trenton Gill, P

Primary Team Needs: OT, WR, Edge, OL
Secondary Team Needs: CB, TE, LB

Cincinnati Bengals, A

The Bengals filled their biggest need in the offseaon by beefing up the offensinve line, so they did not need to grab anyone at that position early. What they did need was the safety position and they drafted two Safeties in the first 2 rounds. In total, they drafted 3 Safeties, which is smart. It is nice when you do not need a RB or WR, so you are able to beef up a defense that was already impressive in 2021.

Players Drafted: Daxton Hill, S; Cam Taylor-Britt, S; Zachary Carter, DL; Cordell Volson, OL; Tycen Anderson, S; Jeffrey Gunter, Edge

Primary Team Needs: CB, S, OL
Secondary Team Needs: TE, OT, Edge, WR

Cleveland Browns, B+

Did the Browns even draft this year? They didn’t have a pick until the early third round, after selling their souls for Deshaun Watson. And they spent it fine, adding a CB in Martin Emerson, which never hurts to have some depth at the position in today’s NFL. After that they used a litany of later picks to add some defensive help will a couple of Edge/DL players, a kicker, ANOTHER RB, and a couple WRs. All solid picks and filling some needs for sure, but the WRs are raw talents who likely will be depth guys assuming CLE will bring back Landry or bring in Fuller, both of which are rumored to still be on the table. But if not, these WRs are suitable contingency plans. Another team who really didn’t blow you away, but if you’re a Browns fan you are more than likely happy with the haul, given the lack of massive positional need.

Players Drafted: Martin Emerson, CB; Alex Wright, Edge; David Bell, WR; Perrion Winfrey, DL; Cade York, K; Jerome Ford, RB; Michal Woods II, WR; Isaiah Thomas, Edge; Dawson Deaton, OL

Primary Team Needs: Edge, DL, WR
Secondary Team Needs: S, LB, TE

Dallas Cowboys, C+

Honestly, this feels like a let down if you are a Cowboys fan. All we heard entering the draft was how Jerry was getting impatient and wanting to move up for a high profile player, yet they eventually just sat and settled for an OT that came to them. It was a bit of a reach when you hear the negatives on Tyler Smith, but it should be stated that they really did draft for need. They followed up their first need in the first round with a LB in the 2nd and WR in the 3rd, both these picks fall in line with need based drafting; so that’s something to be happy about. Nearly every other pick were late round flyers which I don’t expect to get more playing time than practice squad participation. To me (not a Cowboys fan) this wasn’t a bad draft, but it clearly wasn’t flashy either and my grade reflects that.

Players Drafted: Tyler Smith, OT; Sam Williams, LB; Jalen Tolbert, WR; Jake Ferguson, TE; Matt Waletzko, OT; DeRon Bland, CB; Damone Clark, LB; John Ridgeway, DL; Devin Harper, LB

Primary Team Needs: Edge, S, WR, OL
Secondary Team Needs: DL, CB

Denver Broncos, B-

The Broncos are another team who did not have a draft pick until really late in the 2nd round, and they took LB Nik Bonitto which was a big need of theirs, so you have to give them props there. They ended up filling a lot of team needs after that pick, even though they were later picks. With them bringing back Melvin Gordon, they did not have to reach or draft a RB at all, so they were able to fill other holes that were actually needed. Nice job by the team heading into the draft and they had a fine draft overall.

Players Drafted: Nik Bonitto, LB; Greg Dulcich, TE; Damarri Mathis, CB; Eyioma Uwazurike, Edge; Delarrin Turner-Yell, S; Motrell Washington, WR; Luke Wattenburg, OL; Matt Henningsen, DL; Falon Hicks, CB

Primary Team Needs: Edge, CB, LB, S
Secondary Team Needs OT, RB, TE

Detroit Lions, A+

The Lions get a big, fat, A FRICKIN PLUS. For the first time in a while, there may be hope blooming in the hearts and minds of the Detroit Lion fans. They get the best player in the draft in Aidan Hutchinson because the Jags did Jag things and blew their 1.01 pick on future Bust of the Year Travon Walker. Then, they double down and nab Jameson Williams, who by all accounts, is miraculously going to be ready for training camp despite his ACL tear. Absent that tear, he may have been a top 5 pick overall. Then they proceeded to add Kerby Joseph at Safety, James Mitchell at TE, and a couple LBs and a CB to round out their later selections. So overall, a massive draft for the Lions who should now be able to look positively toward the future with a host of young talent all over the field. The one lingering question is Jared Goff, can he step up and bring this team back into NFC North relevance? Or was it a huge miss to not nab a QB in this draft? Only time will tell, but I personally agree with them rolling with Goff (or maybe trading for a Jimmy G/Baker Mayfield) rather than rolling the dice on the host of average QBs that were available to them in this draft.

Players Drafted: Aidan Hutchinson, Edge; Jameson Williams, WR; Kerby Joseph, S; James Mitchell, TE; Malcom Rodriguez, LB; James Houston, LB; Chase Lucas, CB

Primary Team Needs: QB, Edge, S
Secondary Team Needs: WR, LB, CB

Green Bay Packers, C+

Packers fan or not, this administration has to make you laugh at how much they like to stick it to Rodgers. I don’t know why, but they just love telling him “deal with it”. So to start, they draft Quay Walker, who honestly isn’t a bad pick for a team that needed a LB, he’s fast and is a natural leader, so he should be with the team for a long time. They then take Devonte Wyatt, who as we all know was a dominant force on the National Champions line, so while the players they selected in the first were good, they were not as big of a need as their 2nd round pick. The aforementioned second round pick was Christian Watson, who the Packers traded up to get, and not only did they trade up, they packaged two 2nds to get him (about the same value as mid round firsts were going this year). It is almost as if Aaron was calling the GM all night saying “what the hell are you doing, get me a WR!”. Besides the drama that is Rodgers and the front office, the Packers drafted 3 offensive linemen, two more Wide Receivers, and two more Linebackers…so they really focused on a few positions, which makes sense since they really only had a few holes. Without the drama I’d give them a B+, but with it, I have to give them a dramatic grade.

Players Drafted: Quay Walker, LB; Devonte Wyatt, DL; Christian Watson, WR; Sean Rhyan, OL; Romeo Doubs, WR; Zach Tom, OL; Kingley Enagbare, LB; Tariq Carpenter, LB; Johathan Ford, DL; Rasheed Walker, OT; Samori Toure, WR

Primary Team Needs: WR, Edge, OT, DL
Secondary Team Needs: LB, TE, OL

Indianapolis Colts, A

The Colts did not have a first round pick, but they grabbed WR Alex Pierce in the second round, and he should be able to lock down the WR2 role in the offense, opposite Michael Pittman. I know I want Kyle Granson to be the TE in Indy, but it was smart of them to add depth to that spot and they did so by drafting 2 TEs. They got an absolute steal in Raimann in the 3rd round, since TSF had him going late 1st/early 2nd. Nick Cross was also a steal at the Safety position in the third since he should have been a 2nd round pick. Other than that, they added depth to their defense which puts them in a great spot to start the 2022 season.

Players Drafted: Alec Pierce, WR; Jelani Woods, TE; Bernhard Raimann, OT; Nick Cross, S; Eric Johnson, DL; Andrew Ogletree, TE; Curtis Brooks, DL; Rodney Thomas, CB

Primary Team Needs: Edge, OT, WR
Secondary Team Needs: CB, S, TE, QB, DL

Houston Texans, A-

I personally loved this draft for the Texans. They filled a lot of holes, didn’t reach on many players (outside of mayyyybe one pick), and added some support for Davis Mills, who I still have some faith in as an NFL QB. They take Derek Stingley with the #3 overall pick, which I loved, even though Sauce Gardner was the more hyped commodity in this draft. Stingley hasn’t lit the world on fire since 2019, but Houston believes he can get back to that form, and I’m choosing to trust them. They took Kenyon Green with their second pick in the first round, and this is the pick I think they reached most on, but if they see something in him and think they can develop him and coach out some of his bad habits, then he could be a solid plug alongside Tunsil for years to come. They then add Metchie, Christian Harris, Dameon Pierce… three players who should see the field early and often in 2022, and all three of whom can make a big impact. Bringing in young talent to this rebuilding squad was a must, and they crushed it in this regard. Would have liked to see them add a legit edge rusher, so I’ll ding them ever so slightly for that, but otherwise a very solid incoming rookie class for them.

Players Drafted: Derek Stingley Jr., CB; Kenyon Green, OL; Jalen Pitre, S; John Metchie III, WR; Christian Harris, LB; Dameon Pierce, RB; Thomas Booker, DL; Teagam Quitoriano, TE; Austin Deculus, OT

Primary Team Needs: Edge, CB, S, OT
Secondary Team Needs: RB, QB, WR, OL

Jacksonville Jaguars, C+

Travon Walker gets taken by JAX with 1.01 and instantly flipped the draft on its head. The Jags get their guy, or at least Trent Baalke’s guy, and only time will tell if they made the right call. TSF’s Craig has repeatedly called this the reach of the draft, noting that Walker has lacked production despite his physical tools, and could ultimately be one of the biggest busts in recent draft history. So this gets JAX off to a rocky start for grading. Lucky for them, they land Devin Lloyd, an ultra elite specimen at LB who should instantly fill the Myles Jack void, while also adding Chad Muma, a raw but interesting prospect who should play meaningful snaps for the team. They also add Luke Fortner (OL), Snoop Conner as a depth RB, and two CBs to finish off a solid back end of the draft. Their later picks certainly help boost their grade, but it’s tough to give them a great grade if we all agree they blew pick 1.01.

Players Drafted: Travon Walker, Edge; Devin Lloyd, LB; Luke Fortner, OL; Chad Muma, LB; Snoop Conner, RB; Gregory Junior, CB; Montaric Brown, CB

Primary Team Needs: Edge
Secondary Team Needs: S, DL, OT

Kansas City Chiefs, A-

The Chiefs had a bunch of early picks after the Tyreek Hill trade and they nailed it in the first 2 rounds. McDuffie was selected right where we thought he would be and they got a gem of an Edge rusher in Karlaftis. I love the Skyy Moore pick and I like it even more because they got him after after the Pats selected a guy who should not have been drafted in the 2nd a few picks before that. If you look at their primary team needs, they selected all of those positions with their first 4 picks. They even filled all the secondary team needs as well later in the draft, along with adding depth elsewhere. It’s kind of like they were playing Madden where it tells you exaclty what you need. Weird how well that works!

Players Drafted: Trent McDuffie, CB; George Karlaftis, Edge; Skyy Moore, WR; Bryan Cook, S; Leo Chenal, LB; Joshua Williams, CB; Darian Kinnard, OT; Jaylen Watson, CB; Isaih Pachecho, RB; Nazeeh Johnson, S

Primary Team Needs: WR, CB, Edge, S
Secondary Team Needs: RB, OT, LB

Las Vegas Raiders, B

The Raiders didn’t have many picks to make, given what they traded to land Davante Adams, but the ones they did make should be fine additions. Depth at OL in Parham, who could become a full time starter over time, depth at RB in Zamir White, two DL prospects who should rotate in to spell Crosby and Ferrell, and Britain Brown (RB) and Thayer Munford (OT) to add even more depth to the position groups. Nothing that will knock your socks off, but a lot of depth pieces that should help them compete in a very deep AFC West.

Players Drafted: Dylan Parham, OL; Zamir White, RB; Neil Farrell Jr., DL; Matthew Butler, DL; Thayer Munford, OT; Brittain Brown, RB

Primary Team Needs: OT, Edge, LB, WR
Secondary Team Needs: QB, CB, TE, S

Los Angeles Chargers, A

The Chargers have crushed their drafts lately, adding Herbert and Rashawn Slater over the last couple, and in 2022 we see more of the same. They need to keep Herbert healthy, protected, and upright in the pocket, and Zion Johnson on the OL fits that bill. He and Slater should be stalwarts on the OL for years to come. Next they take JT Woods, which is a great pick considering he can either play opposite Derwin James, or play in his place if he struggles to stay healthy again. Next was Isaiah Spiller, a great prospect who slid a bit down draft boards after an underwhelming combine, but someone who should be able to carry the ball a lot for the Chargers and work between the tackles, while letting Ekeler still handle the pass catching and outside running duties. They should be a great 1-2 punch. They then added a handful of depth pieces, and just to keep the TSF boys happy they took FB Zander Horvath, which you love to see.

Players Drafted: Zion Johnson, OL; JT Woods, S; Isaiah Spiller, RB; Otito Ogbonnia, DL; Jamaree Salyer, OL; Ja’Sir Taylor, CB; Deane Leonard, CB; Zander Horvath, FB

Primary Team Needs: OT, DL, LB, Edge
Secondary Team Needs: CB, TE, WR

Los Angeles Rams, B

I have to give the Rams a B even though as a team, you could just give them an A. They did not have a pick until the 3rd round, but I doubt they really cared since those picks they traded last year helped them win the Super Bowl last season. There was no real big need besides offensive line after Whitworth retired, and that is what they drafted with their first pick in Bruss. Other than that, they just added depth to an already superb roster. They are likely the favorites once again in the NFC.

Players Drafted: Logan Bruss, OL; Decobie Durant, CB; Kyren Williams, RB; Quentin Lake, S; Derion Kendrick, CB; Daniel Hardy, LB; Russ Yeast, S; AJ Arcuri, OT

Primary Team Needs: LB, Edge, OL, S
Secondary Team Needs: CB, LB, OT, RB, TE

Miami Dolphins, B

The only pick the Dolphins made that I care about is the Channing Tindall selection. He is likely going to be a day one starter for the Fins, and his freak athletic talent will be a welcome addition to the Miami LB corps, as he can cover sideline to sideline. He also has the tenacity to match up with any TE in the league in coverage, so there is a strong chance he ends up being one of the biggest steals in this draft when it’s all said and done. Ezukanma at WR is just a depth selection, he probably won’t see much time on the field, and Cameron Goode (LB) and Skylar Thompson (QB) are not important additions to the immediate game day roster. For a team without many picks (due to the trade to land Tyreek Hill), they still managed to have fine draft, but for the first time in a couple years the Fins weren’t huge players on draft day.

Players Drafted: Channing Tindall, LB; Erik Ezukanma, WR; Cameron Goode, LB; Skylar Thompson, QB

Primary Team Needs: LB, OL, RB
Secondary Team Needs: Edge, OT, WR

Minnesota Vikings, B+

While not possessing a ton of high end draft capital, Minnesota managed to make the most of their picks by filling needs with some talented players with a ton of upside. Lewis Cine playing with Harrison Smith should be a force on the backend of their D, and Andrew Booth, their 2nd pick, should both look to improve the league’s worst passing defense from a season ago. Next they grabbed Ed Ingram (OL) to help keep their rushing attack near the top of the league, always a good move when you have elite RBs in your system. And with their fourth pick in the top 70 off the board they took Brian Asamoah, who will play immediately for MIN at LB and likely make a huge impact as a solid cover LB who can also lay the wood when needed. MIN has a long tradition of getting the most out of their LB corps and I think this is another similar scenario. After this they added some good depth pieces, Otomewo (EDGE), Ty Chandler (RB), Vederian Lowe (OT), Jalen Nailor (WR), and Nick Muse (TE). A lot of guys who will probably fight to see the field, but have considerable upside and could become great rotational players for the Vikings.

Players Drafted: Lewis Cine, S; Andrew Booth Jr., CB; Ed Ingram, OL; Brian Asamoah, LB; Akayleb Evans, CB; Esezi Otomewo, Edge; Ty Chandler, RB; Vederian Lowe, OT; Jalen Nailor, WR; Nick Muse, TE

Primary Team Needs: S, DL, CB
Secondary Team Needs: WR, LB, Edge, QB

New England Patriots, F-

Terrible. Awful. Horrendous. Embarrassing. Pathetic. Losers. All words that apply to the Patriots draft this year. Some people have taken to defending the Cole Strange pick, I am not one of them. By all accounts, he is a fine player, but a player who likely would have been around in the second round if you really wanted him. But to reach on him in the first threw off the Patriots entire draft. Then, in truly mind-boggling fashion, the Patriots trade up! To take a DB or LB right…right?!?! Nope, to take Tyquan Thornton, who was a 4th-5th round graded WR prospect. What is going on??? Not filling needs, reaching left and right, and moving up in the draft for no apparent reason, while letting other, better players (Kaiir Elam) get drafted by your division rival who just stomped you twice in a row to end the 2021 season. They tried to get back on track in round 3, taking Marcus Jones (CB), but it was too late. Jack Jones was 4th round pick who was also not projected to go that high, then they took RB-QB-RB-DL-OL-OL to round out their draft. 2 RUNNING BACKS?!?! What are we doing, Bill? I mean honestly. A RB room that already has Damien Harris, Stevenson, JJ Taylor, James White… why do you need 2 RBs? I don’t understand. Now there are Deebo trade rumors swirling about, and that could bring some clarity to some of these picks, depending on who the Patriots would be sending back to SF in order to get a deal done, but for the time being…. MIND BOGGLED.

Players Drafted: Cole Strange, OL; Tyquan Thornton, WR; Marcus Jones, CB; Jack Jones, CB; Pierre Strong Jr., RB; Bailey Zappe, QB; Kevin Harris, RB; Sam Roberts, DL; Chasen Hines, OL; Andrew Sturber, OL

Primary Team Needs: LB, OL, WR, CB
Secondary Team Needs: OT, Edge, S, DL

New Orleans Saints, B+

The Saints had a fine draft and traded up to take their WR in Olave. I do not agree with taking Olave over Jameson Williams, but Olave makes more sense for the Saints. He is a field stretcher who pairs very well with Michael Thomas. The Saints are still a team who are looking at playoffs, so they couldn’t really wait until Williams comes back from injury. They then grab a great OT in Penning with their second 1st round pick. Then built their defense even more after that. Their latest move can’t shift their grade up since it happened after the draft, but signing Honey Badger a few days later was just the icing on the cake.

Players Drafted: Chris Olave, WR; Trevor Penning, OT; Alontae Taylor, S; D’Marco Jackson, LB; Jordan Jackson, DL

Primary Team Needs: WR, OT, QB
Secondary Team Needs: S, DL, TE

New York Giants, A+

I could not be more impressed with the Giants draft, as it finally looks as though the new coach and GM will be getting this team back on track. They followed through with their plan to bolster their OL with Evan Neal, but before that they added an elite Edge rusher in Kayvon Thibodeaux, who many believe could have been an even higher pick if he didn’t bomb his interviews. His talent, however, is unquestionable. They then added Wan’Dale Robinson, who is a bit of a strange pick, given their log jam at WR already, but maybe this is a sign that they intend to shed some dead weight in the receiver room, or that Toney is really on the way out of town. After that they went for another depth OL in Joshua Ezeudu, who could play big snaps if anyone else on the Giants OL struggles. The rest of their additions are solid pieces for their D, a couple of LBs, a CB, a S, and a DL, but no one that should be a household name from day one. But in any case, they filled a lot of needs on one of the league’s worst defenses and that should only serve to help them.

Players Drafted: Kayvon Thibodeaux, Edge; Evan Neal, OT; Wan’Dale Robinson, WR; Joshua Ezeudu, OL; Cordale FLott, CB; Daniel Bellinger, TE; Dane Belton, S; Micah McFadden, LB; D.J. Davidson, DL; Marcus McKethan, OL; Darrian Beavers, LB

Primary Team Needs: OT, Edge, S
Secondary Team Needs: OL, LB,WR, QB, TE, RB

New York Jets, A

As much as I hate giving the Jets a high grade, they deserve it after this draft. They get their CB 4th overall by selecting Sauce Gardner, and then take the first WR off the board in Garrett Wilson. With the last pick in the 1st round, they added Jermaine Johnson, who was one of the better Edge players in the draft. They then take the best RB in the draft by selecting Breece Hall in the early 2nd round. They filled plenty of holes in the team and they are giving Zach Wilson all the help in the world to succeed.

Players Drafted: Ahmad Gardner, CB; Garrett Wilson, WR; Jermaine Johnson III, Edge; Breece Hall, RB; Jeremy Ruckert, TE; Max Mitchell, OT; Michael Clemons, DL

Primary Team Needs: OT, Edge, S, CB
Secondary Team Needs: WR, DL, LB

Philadelphia Eagles, A

Home run of a draft for Philly. They add a number of key pieces that will be instrumental to their long term future success. Jordan Davis might be the best overall player in this draft, and they stole him at pick #13. Fletcher Cox signed a one year deal to stay with Philly, but the writing is on the wall for him, so Davis will learn from him for a year or so and then probably take the reins as the next big Eagle DT. Cameron Jurgens was next for them, an OL that should help the Eagles add some stability to an OL group that has struggled over the last few years, not only in consistent play, but also just in staying on the field. Next, they took Nakobe Dean, a player who fell massively due to some concerns about his refusal to have shoulder surgery, but who could ultimately be one of the biggest steals in this year’s draft. He has the athleticism Philly loves to have in their LBs, and he should be an instant starter if his injury isn’t as serious as the draft plummet might have you believe. After that, they took Kyron Johnson (LB) and Grant Calcaterra (TE) to end a very promising draft for a young, solid team.

Players Drafted: Jordan Davis, DL; Cameron Jurgens, OL; Nakobe Dean, LB; Kyron Johnson, LB; Grant Calcaterra, TE

Primary Team Needs: CB, Edge, WR, OL, S
Secondary Team Needs: RB, LB, OT

Pittsburgh Steelers, B

It’s odd to see a team like Pittsburgh who went 9-7-1 in 2021 and say they don’t have a ton of needs, but here we are. They take Kenny Pickett, which certainly fills a future need at QB unless Mitch Trubisky pans out, so they are trying to get some security there and hope they can develop the local boy Pickett into a future star. Then they nabbed George Pickens, who fell quite a bit due to “character concerns”… so really just a natural fit for the Steelers. His talent has always been there, he’s just got to keep his head on straight. After that they take DeMarvin Neal, a dominant Edge rusher who should play well on the Steelers defense, and someone whose attitude should fit perfectly with the way the Steelers play hardnose football in the trenches. Rounding out the later rounds they took Calvin Austin (WR), Conner Heyward (FB), Mark Robinson (LB), and Chris Alodokun (QB),,,so adding some depth at positions of strength and adding a FB, as the Steelers are one of the few teams who still carry a FB every year. Also, we saw Najee run a lot from the shotgun last season, and I’m sure he would much rather run behind a FB with some massive holes in front of him, so this move makes a lot of sense.

Players Drafted: Kenny Pickett, QB; George Pickens, WR; DeMarvin Leal, Edge; Calvin Austin III, WR; Conner Heyward, FB; Mark Robinson, LB; Chris Alodokun, QB

Primary Team Needs: OL, S, CB, QB, DL
Secondary Team Needs: OT, WR, Edge, LB

San Francisco 49ers, C+

The Niners did not have a pick until the end of the 2nd round, so it is hard to really say they had a good or bad draft, but they did not get a CB until late which is what they needed the most. I liked the Danny Gray pick with their third selection, just in case the rumors are true that Deebo wants out, they have someone to fill that void in some way. An RB that early is odd, but it does not surprise me since SF RBs can never stay healthy and they always want depth with that position (so long Trey Sermon). We did not see Jimmy G get traded during the draft, so it will be interesting to see when or if he even gets moved.

Players Drafted: Drake Jackson, LB; Tyrion Davis-Price, RB; Danny Gray, WR; Spencer Burford, OT; Samuel Womack, CB; Nick Zakelj, OT; Kalia Davis, DL; Tariq Castro-Fields, CB; Brock Purdy, QB

Primary Team Needs: OL, CB
Secondary Team Needs: WR, Edge

Seattle Seahawks, B+

Seattle sent two messages in this draft… We trust Drew Lock to play QB for us, and we are going to pound the ball down your frickin throat. Charles Cross is a monster up front and should not only protect his QB, but he should create some huge rushing lanes for whoever ends up running the rock in Seattle. It could be their second round selection Kenneth Walker, a pick we here at TSF love, or could be Chris Carson coming back from off season neck surgery. It will not be Rashaad Penny (sorry Dickie). They also bolstered their D with Boye Mafe, a very athletic LB who should fill some of the Bobby Wagner role, picked Tyreke Smith, who should add some pressure off the edge, and added two CBs who they will hope can begin to shore up their secondary that is a far cry from the Legion of Boom days. They also took a couple of WRs late in Bo Melton and Dareke Young, but those are likely only contingency plans for a scenario where they can’t come to terms with DK Metcalf. Overall, a good draft that should position them well for the future, even with Drew Lock at the helm.

Players Drafted: Charles Cross, OT; Boye Mafe, LB; Kenneth Walker Jr., RB; Abraham Lucas, OT; Coby Bryant, CB; Tariq Woolen, CB; Tyreke Smith, Edge; Bo Melton, WR; Dareke Young, WR

Primary Team Needs: OT, QB, Edge, CB
Secondary Team Needs: OL, WR

Tampa Bay Buccaneers, C+

Logan Hall was a bit of a surprise pick at #33, with a lot of other talented edge rushers still on the board, but I’m not going to second guess the Bucs defensive selections, as they’ve been dialed in for years now. So they get a pass based on historical precedent. Next they took Luke Goedeke, who they’re certainly hoping can help fill some of the gaps left on the OL after losing two of their top linemen in the offseason. Rachaad White (RB) is brought in to back up Fournette and keep him fresh, but he likely won’t be a huge factor unless there’s an injury ahead of him. Cade Otten (TE) was their next pick, likely in the event that Gronk doesn’t end up coming back. They took a punter next, a little early for my taste, but a team who wants to win the field position battle can always benefit from an extra leg. They don’t take their first CB until Zyon McCollum at #157, a little late for a team whose primary need to DB, but they did add Logan Ryan in the offseason so maybe they’re feeling alright. An odd draft, but the Bucs are still a team near the top of the league, so they likely aren’t as concerned with their draft as some other squads.

Players Drafted: Logan Hall, Edge; Luke Goedeke, OT; Rachaad White, RB; Cade Otton, TE; Jake Camarda, P; Zyon McCollum, CB; Ko Kieft, TE; Andre Anthony, Edge

Primary Team Needs: OL, S, WR, CB
Secondary Team Needs: RB, DL, TE, LB

Tennessee Titans, C+

Sure, the Titans drafted Treylon Burks in the 1st round which is great, but by doing so, they had to trade AJ Brown who is one of the best WRs in the NFL. That lowers their grade as it is hard to find anyone to fill that role. They got McCreary right where I thought he would go, but they had a lot of holes to fill on the defensive side which they failed to do until their last 2 picks. They got a steal in Malik Willis, since he was projected to go in the 1st, so he will sit behind Tannehill for a season or two which is great for his development. Overall, the Titans will be fine this season, but wish they filled more defensive needs in the draft.

Players Drafted: Treylon Burks, WR; Roger McCreary, CB; Nicholas Petit-Frere, OT; Malik Willis, QB; Hassan Haskins, RB; Chigoziem Okonkwo, TE; Theo Jackson, CB; Chance Campbell, LB

Primary Team Needs: WR, LB, OT
Secondary Team Needs: TE, CB, DL, Edge, QB

Washington Commanders, B-

This is probably one of the harder drafts for me to grade out. I like what they did in a lot of regards, adding Jahan Dotson, who many are calling the best WR prospect in the draft. He should work well opposite Terry McLaurin, or if they can’t extend Terry, he will slot in as the new number one WR in Washington. Next, they added Phidarian Mathis, which I don’t get, because the Commanders already have like 75 great pass rushers on their front 4. So it’s sort of an embarrassment of riches problem, but I just feel like they could have used the pick better to add someone at a position they needed more. Next they take Brian Robinson Jr, who should provide the ability to rest Antonio Gibson a bit more in 2022, so I like that pick a ton. Could limit the fantasy value of both backs, but from an NFL perspective, makes a ton of sense. Percy Butler was next up for them, the dynamic safety who will likely play starter reps for them right out the gate. Then they grabbed Sam Howell, a good depth pick for them, especially given Wentz’s injury history, but you do also have Heinecke there already, and he knows the system, so it’s still a tad peculiar. To round out the draft they grabbed a TE, OL, and CB… so three lesser needs for them but three spots you can never have too much depth in today’s NFL. So overall, a good, but at times confusing, draft for Washington. A true “time will tell” situation.

Players Drafted: Johan Dotson, WR; Phidarian Mathis, DL; Brian Robinson Jr., RB; Percy Butler, S; Sam Howell, QB; Cole Turner, TE; Chris Paul, OL; Christian Holmes, CB

Primary Team Needs: WR, CB, OL
Secondary Team Needs: S, TE, QB