One of my favorite summer offseason exercises is a retrospective on past drafts. So much is made of each draft in the leadup and immediate aftermath, then they are largely forgotten save for the loud successes and failures. It’s not often we get to look back on a draft in its entirety, so let’s do that today.
Common wisdom holds that three years out is when you can truly grade a team’s draft haul. With the majority of their rookie contracts in the books and plenty of team-building done since, you get a pretty clear picture of which picks were foundational for a roster and which ones set teams back in their quest for a title. Players’ careers aren’t necessarily defined by this three-year stretch of course, but on a team level it’s enough time to say with 90 percent confidence whether the pick was a success or failure.
With that in mind, let’s take a look back at and re-grade the 2022 draft. Much was made of the weak quarterback class we just had a few months back, but the 2022 quarterback class made the 2025 group look spectacular by comparison. Only one signal-caller went in the first round and none were in the top 10, leading to a more wild and unpredictable top of the draft than we usually see.
I’ll be examining each team’s draft haul and assigning them a new grade with the benefit of some hindsight. Let’s jump right into it:
Arizona Cardinals
Round 2, Pick 55: Colorado State TE Trey McBride
Round 3, Pick 87: San Diego State ED Cameron Thomas
Round 3, Pick 100: Cincinnati ED Myjai Sanders
Round 6, Pick 201: USC RB Keaontay Ingram
Round 6, Pick 215: Virginia Tech G Lecitus Smith
Round 7, Pick 244: Valdosta State CB Christian Matthew
Round 7, Pick 256: Penn State ED Jesse Luketa
Round 7, Pick 257: Oklahoma G Marquis Hayes
Original Grade: B
3-Year Grade: C-
How you grade this draft hinges entirely on how you view the McBride pick relative to the rest of the draft. McBride has become one of the best tight ends in the NFL, coming off a 1,000-yard season and having almost 2,000 combined yards over the last two. He’s a true stud at the position, a home-run pick, and operated as the top option in Arizona’s passing attack for the last two years.
The rest of the draft produced absolutely nothing. Ingram stuck around as a depth back for a few seasons, but McBride is the only pick still on the Cardinals’ roster. Sanders barely made the roster as a rookie and was cut during his second season, and Thomas didn’t last much longer. Out of eight picks, only one turned into an NFL player, though that one was a huge hit and salvages this grade somewhat.
Atlanta Falcons
Round 1, Pick 8: USC WR Drake London
Round 2, Pick 38: Penn State ED Arnold Ebiketie
Round 2, Pick 58: Montana State LB Troy Andersen
Round 3, Pick 74: Cincinnati QB Desmond Ridder
Round 3, Pick 82: Western Kentucky LB DeAngelo Malone
Round 5, Pick 151: BYU RB Tyler Allgeier
Round 6, Pick 190: Georgia G Justin Shaffer
Round 6, Pick 213: Georgia TE John FitzPatrick
Original Grade: B+
3-Year Grade: C
London hasn’t had the lofty statistical production he’s capable of, but that’s more a product of inconsistent quarterback play than his shortcomings. He’s been a true top option on the outside and lived up to the hype as a top-10 pick.
Ebiketie and Anderson are decent depth options, but the Falcons prioritized upgrades this offseason to get them out of the starting lineup. Allgeier is a bruiser who had a great rookie season and is currently the secondary backfield option behind Bijan Robinson. Ridder started for a time, and while he was subsequently traded and has bounced around the league since, it’s hard to blame Atlanta for taking a mid-round flyer on a quarterback.
Baltimore Ravens
Round 1, Pick 14: Notre Dame S Kyle Hamilton
Round 1, Pick 25: Iowa C Tyler Linderbaum
Round 2, Pick 45: Michigan ED David Ojabo
Round 3, Pick 76: UConn DT Travis Jones
Round 4, Pick 110: Minnesota OT Daniel Faalele
Round 4, Pick 119: Alabama CB Jalyn Armour-Davis
Round 4, Pick 128: Iowa State TE Charlie Kolar
Round 4, Pick 130: Penn State P Jordan Stout
Round 4, Pick 139: Coastal Carolina TE Isaiah Likely
Round 4, Pick 141: Houston CB Damarion Williams
Round 6, Pick 196: Missouri RB Tyler Badie
Original Grade: A+
3-Year Grade: A
This draft had the perfect combination of star power at the top and quality depth throughout. The Ravens capitalized on positional value pushing Hamilton and Linderbaum down the board, as the two have developed into some of the best at their respective positions. Hamilton, in particular, is a star.
Ojabo has underwhelmed thus far in his career, but Jones took a step forward in 2024, his first season as a starter. Faalele struggled at tackle but has since moved to guard, and he’s in line to start for his second straight year. Likely is a dynamic weapon at tight end, and Kolar is a good depth option. Plus, as a bonus, Stout is one of the best punters in the league.
Buffalo Bills
Round 1, Pick 23: Florida CB Kaiir Elam
Round 2, Pick 63: Georgia RB James Cook
Round 3, Pick 89: Baylor LB Terrel Bernard
Round 5, Pick 148: Boise State WR Khalil Shakir
Round 6, Pick 180: San Diego State P Matt Araiza
Round 6, Pick 185: Villanova CB Christian Benford
Round 6, Pick 209: Virginia Tech OT Luke Tenuta
Round 7, Pick 231: Clemson LB Baylon Spector
Original Grade: B+
3-Year Grade: B-
This is a tricky draft to grade. The Elam pick was as big a bust as can be. He was immediately buried on the depth chart as a rookie and the Bills were terrified to put him out on the field while he was in Buffalo. He’s now in Dallas as a backup. After that, however, this draft got good — really good.
Cook is explosive and versatile in his deployment as he enters his third season as the starter. Bernard has taken the mantle from veteran LB Matt Milano and just signed a big-dollar extension this past offseason. Shakir is arguably the Bills’ most reliable target in the passing game. Still, the Benford pick is what redeems this draft. It’s easy to forget about the first-round flop when your sixth-round pick at the same position is a certified stud, and that’s what the Bills got in Benford.
Carolina Panthers
Round 1, Pick 6: NC State OT Ikem Ekwonu
Round 3, Pick 94: Ole Miss QB Matt Corral
Round 4, Pick 120: Penn State LB Brandon Smith
Round 6, Pick 189: Virginia Tech ED Amare Barno
Round 6, Pick 199: Tennessee G Cade Mays
Round 7, Pick 242: Baylor CB Kalon Barnes
Original Grade: C+
3-Year Grade: D+
Ekwonu has been fine at left tackle. Not amazing, not a liability. Just fine. The rest of this draft was a bunch of nothing. Corral was out of the league before his second season. Barno flashed some potential as a rookie but has done very little since, and Mays stuck around as a backup center.
Chicago Bears
Round 2, Pick 39: Washington CB Kyler Gordon
Round 2, Pick 48: Penn State S Jaquan Brisker
Round 3, Pick 71: Tennessee WR Velus Jones Jr.
Round 5, Pick 168: Southern Utah OT Braxton Jones
Round 5, Pick 174: Miami (Ohio) ED Dominique Robinson
Round 6, Pick 186: San Diego State OT Zachary Thomas
Round 6, Pick 203: Baylor RB Treston Ebner
Round 6, Pick 207: Illinois C Doug Kramer
Round 7, Pick 226: Southern G Ja’Tyre Carter
Round 7, Pick 254: California S Elijah Hicks
Round 7, Pick 255: NC State P Trenton Gill
Original Grade: D
3-Year Grade: B-
Gordon and Brisker anchored this class on draft night, and so far it’s panned out. Gordon has the slot cornerback job on lockdown, and even though Brisker suffered multiple concussions that forced him to miss extended time over the years, he’s performed admirably when on the field.
Velus Jones was an overdraft at the time and is no longer on the roster, but Braxton Jones is a quality starting left tackle found in the middle rounds. Kramer started for a while at center and is still around as a backup, and Hicks stuck on the roster as a depth safety.
Cincinnati Bengals
Round 1, Pick 31: Michigan S Daxton Hill
Round 2, Pick 60: Nebraska CB Cam Taylor-Britt
Round 3, Pick 95: Florida DT Zachary Carter
Round 4, Pick 136: North Dakota State OT Cordell Volson
Round 5, Pick 166: Toledo S Tycen Anderson
Round 7, Pick 252: Coastal Carolina ED Jeffrey Gunter
Original Grade: C+
3-Year Grade: C+
For the first two years of his NFL career, Hill did basically nothing. He moved to cornerback last offseason and it paid dividends, as he looked like a potential star in the making before suffering a season-ending injury.
Taylor-Britt is inconsistent and reckless at times in his play, but his length and ability to lock up receivers one-on-one is impressive. Volson moved to guard and started the past few seasons, but looks like he’ll be replaced this year.
Cleveland Browns
Round 3, Pick 68: Mississippi State CB Martin Emerson
Round 3, Pick 78: UAB ED Alex Wright
Round 3, Pick 99: Purdue WR David Bell
Round 4, Pick 108: Oklahoma DT Perrion Winfrey
Round 4, Pick 124: LSU K Cade York
Round 5, Pick 156: Cincinnati RB Jerome Ford
Round 6, Pick 202: Oklahoma WR Michael Woods II
Round 7, Pick 223: Oklahoma ED Isaiah Thomas
Round 7, Pick 246: Texas Tech C Dawson Deaton
Original Grade: C+
3-Year Grade: C
Emerson proved to be a great pick, as he’s one of the best players in a deep Browns cornerback room. He can play both inside and outside and has a knack for making plays. Wright and Bell haven’t stood out at all yet in their careers, though they both continue to stick around on the roster.
Ford has been the starter at running back since Nick Chubb suffered that horrible injury, and he should still factor in this year even with a lot of new blood in the backfield. York, on the other hand, is a textbook case as to why you shouldn’t draft kickers.
Dallas Cowboys
Round 1, Pick 24: Tulsa OT Tyler Smith
Round 2, Pick 56: Ole Miss ED Sam Williams
Round 3, Pick 88: South Alabama WR Jalen Tolbert
Round 4, Pick 129: Wisconsin TE Jake Ferguson
Round 5, Pick 155: North Dakota OT Matt Waletzko
Round 5, Pick 167: Fresno State CB DaRon Bland
Round 5, Pick 176: LSU LB Damone Clark
Round 5, Pick 178: Arkansas DT John Ridgeway
Round 6, Pick 193: Oklahoma State LB Devin Harper
Original Grade: B
3-Year Grade: B+
Smith was expected to need a lot of time to adjust to the NFL. Instead, he hit the ground running, filling in for the injured Tyron Smith at left tackle and looking like a star. He’s since moved to left guard and looks to be a fixture there for years to come. Williams was a miss, but Tolbert finally put together a decent season last year, and Ferguson was a valuable contributor as a rookie before becoming Dallas’ starting tight end.
For the later-round picks, Bland was a total steal. He’s developed into a turnover machine on the outside, anchoring half of one of the best cornerback duos in the NFL. Clark stuck on the roster as a backup linebacker, too.
Denver Broncos
Round 2, Pick 64: Oklahoma ED Nik Bonitto
Round 3, Pick 80: UCLA TE Greg Dulcich
Round 4, Pick 115: Pittsburgh CB Damarri Mathis
Round 4, Pick 116: Iowa State ED Eyioma Uwazurike
Round 5, Pick 152: Oklahoma S Delarrin Turner-Yell
Round 5, Pick 162: Samford WR Montrell Washington
Round 5, Pick 171: Washington C Luke Wattenberg
Original Grade: C
3-Year Grade: B-
Bonitto’s emergence last year really did a lot of heavy lifting on this new grade. He’s developed into one of the NFL’s premier edge rushers and is in line for a massive extension. Dulcich was a yearly training camp darling but couldn’t stick on the roster. Mathis flashed has a rookie but hasn’t been able to build on that at all. Wattenberg took over as a 13-game starter last season.
Detroit Lions
Round 1, Pick 2: Michigan ED Aidan Hutchinson
Round 1, Pick 12: Alabama WR Jameson Williams
Round 2, Pick 46: Kentucky ED Josh Paschal
Round 3, Pick 97: Illinois S Kerby Joseph
Round 5, Pick 177: Virginia Tech TE James Mitchell
Round 6, Pick 188: Oklahoma State LB Malcolm Rodriguez
Round 6, Pick 217: Jackson State ED James Houston
Round 7, Pick 237: Arizona State CB Chase Lucas
Original Grade: A
3-Year Grade: A-
A little bit of this class’ luster has worn off relative to expectations, but it’s still a star-studded group. The Lions benefited from Jacksonville overthinking things and took the layup with Hutchinson at No. 2, and he’s one of the best defenders in the league already. Williams has struggled with injuries and suspensions, but when he’s been on the field, he adds an important element to this offense as one of the elite deep threats in the NFL.
Paschal hasn’t done much of anything since entering the league, but Joseph quietly developed into one of the best safeties in the league and just got paid like it. Rodriguez is an important part of Detroit’s linebacker depth, and Houston had an impressive rookie season before getting lost in the shuffle.
Green Bay Packers
Round 1, Pick 22: Georgia LB Quay Walker
Round 1, Pick 28: Georgia DT Devonte Wyatt
Round 2, Pick 34: North Dakota State WR Christian Watson
Round 3, Pick 92: UCLA G Sean Rhyan
Round 4, Pick 132: Nevada WR Romeo Doubs
Round 4, Pick 140: Wake Forest G Zach Tom
Round 5, Pick 179: South Carolina ED Kingsley Enagbare
Round 7, Pick 228: Georgia Tech LB Tariq Carpenter
Round 7, Pick 234: Miami DT Jonathan Ford
Round 7, Pick 249: Penn State OT Rasheed Walker
Round 7, Pick 258: Nebraska WR Samori Toure
Original Grade: C+
3-Year Grade: B-
Walker and Wyatt have been mainstays in the starting lineup since being drafted, but neither has cemented themself as a cornerstone for the future. Walker, in particular, has struggled mightily in coverage. Watson had a promising rookie season, but so far has been unable to develop into a more well-rounded receiver and still operates primarily as a vertical threat.
The Packers made a killing in the middle rounds, however. They found three of their current starters on the offensive line in this draft, with Rhyan, Tom and Walker all greatly exceeding their draft expectations. Tom, in particular, has been a standout, making the rare switch from college guard to NFL tackle and becoming the best player on Green Bay’s line. Enagbare is still a rotational pass rusher for the Packers and Doubs is a critical part of their receiving core.
Houston Texans
Round 1, Pick 3: LSU CB Derek Stingley Jr.
Round 1, Pick 15: Texas A&M G Kenyon Green
Round 2, Pick 37: Baylor S Jalen Pitre
Round 2, Pick 44: Alabama WR John Metchie III
Round 3, Pick 75: Alabama LB Christian Harris
Round 4, Pick 107: Florida RB Dameon Pierce
Round 5, Pick 150: Stanford DT Thomas Booker
Round 5, Pick 170: Oregon State TE Teagan Quitoriano
Round 6, Pick 205: LSU OT Austin Deculus
Original Grade: C+
3-Year Grade: B-
Stingley overcame a slow start to his career to become one of the very best lockdown corners in the league. Early returns suggested the Texans should’ve taken Sauce Gardner over him, but that answer isn’t so cut and dry anymore. Pitre plays mostly in the slot these days and is an elite run-stuffer from the secondary.
Green was a bad miss, as he was a liability during his time in Houston and was shipped out this offseason. Metchie, Harris and Pierce have all stuck on the roster in a depth capacity, but none get much playing time these days.
Indianapolis Colts
Round 2, Pick 53: Cincinnati WR Alec Pierce
Round 3, Pick 73: Virginia TE Jelani Woods
Round 3, Pick 77: Central Michigan OT Bernhard Raimann
Round 3, Pick 96: Maryland S Nick Cross
Round 5, Pick 159: Missouri State DT Eric Johnson II
Round 6, Pick 192: Youngstown State TE Andrew Ogletree
Round 6, Pick 216: Cincinnati DT Curtis Brooks
Round 7, Pick 239: Yale S Rodney Thomas II
Original Grade: C+
3-Year Grade: B
This draft aged a lot better than it seemed it would on draft night. Pierce was probably overdrafted as a second-round pick, but even though he’s tapped out as a WR3, he’s arguably the best deep threat in the league. Raimann developed into a stud left tackle, consistently one of the more underrated players in the league. Cross took a while to get his feet under him, but he’s settled into the starting box safety role.
The big miss here was Woods. After flashing potential as a dangerous red zone threat as a rookie, he hasn’t played at all over the last two seasons with various knee and hamstring injuries. His roster spot is very much in doubt this year. Still, the Colts made up for it with later round picks. Ogletree is a quality depth tight end and Thomas has been Indy’s third safety since being drafted. Even Johnson has stuck around as a depth defensive lineman.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Round 1, Pick 1: Georgia ED Travon Walker
Round 1, Pick 27: Utah LB Devin Lloyd
Round 3, Pick 65: Kentucky C Luke Fortner
Round 3, Pick 70: Wyoming LB Chad Muma
Round 5, Pick 154: Ole Miss RB Snoop Conner
Round 6, Pick 197: Ouachita Baptist CB Gregory Junior
Round 7, Pick 222: Arkansas CB Montaric Brown
Original Grade: C
3-Year Grade: C-
The Walker pick has been re-litigated to death, and I have little interest in dissecting it further. Suffice to say, picking Walker over Hutchinson was insane at the time and has only aged worse since. Still, Walker has developed into a solid pass rusher, so the issue is more about the opportunity cost of where the Jaguars selected him, rather than Walker himself.
Their other first-round pick, Lloyd, showed a lot of promise as a rookie and has struggled since. Jacksonville hopes he can bounce back in a critical year for his future with the team. Fortner, Muma and Brown haven’t made much of an impact on the field, but they’ve stuck around as depth pieces.
Kansas City Chiefs
Round 1, Pick 21: Washington CB Trent McDuffie
Round 1, Pick 30: Purdue ED George Karlaftis
Round 2, Pick 54: Western Michigan WR Skyy Moore
Round 2, Pick 62: Cincinnati S Bryan Cook
Round 3, Pick 103: Wisconsin LB Leo Chenal
Round 4, Pick 135: Fayetteville State CB Joshua Williams
Round 5, Pick 145: Kentucky G Darian Kinnard
Round 7, Pick 243: Washington State CB Jaylen Watson
Round 7, Pick 251: Rutgers RB Isiah Pacheco
Round 7, Pick 259: Marshall S Nazeeh Johnson
Original Grade: A
3-Year Grade: A+
This draft is a huge part of the reason why the Chiefs have maintained their dominant hold over the rest of the league, even after parting ways with some key veterans. McDuffie justified their trade up to get him and then some, as he’s become one of the best corners in the league. Karlaftis might not be a singular force off the edge, but he’s a powerful, disciplined rusher who will take advantage of any opportunity he finds.
Moore was a miss, but Cook, Chenal and Watson are all continual starters on a great Kansas City defense. Williams is a solid depth corner, and Pacheco grabbed hold of the starting running back role as a rookie and hasn’t relinquished it since.
Las Vegas Raiders
Round 3, Pick 90: Memphis G Dylan Parham
Round 4, Pick 122: Georgia RB Zamir White
Round 4, Pick 126: LSU DT Neil Farrell Jr.
Round 5, Pick 175: Tennessee DT Matthew Butler
Round 7, Pick 238: Ohio State OT Thayer Munford Jr.
Round 7, Pick 250: UCLA RB Brittain Brown
Original Grade: B-
3-Year Grade: D+
It’s hard to be overly critical of a draft with so few top assets, but coming away with only one useful player in six tries is a tough sell. Parham moved into the starting lineup as a rookie and has been a mainstay there since. White, Farrell and Munford have all started at times for the Raiders, but none performed well and all have since been replaced. Farrell is no longer on the roster.
Los Angeles Chargers
Round 1, Pick 17: Boston College G Zion Johnson
Round 3, Pick 79: Baylor S JT Woods
Round 4, Pick 123: Texas A&M RB Isaiah Spiller
Round 5, Pick 160: UCLA DT Otito Ogbonnia
Round 6, Pick 195: Georgia G Jamaree Salyer
Round 6, Pick 214: Wake Forest CB Ja’Sir Taylor
Round 7, Pick 236: Ole Miss CB Deane Leonard
Round 7, Pick 260: Purdue FB Zander Horvath
Original Grade: B-
3-Year Grade: D-
This is a contender for the worst draft of the year. Johnson has been a liability at guard, and the Chargers moved him to center this year in the hopes he can figure it out. Woods and Spiller both flamed out pretty quickly, with Salyer and Taylor being forced into starting roles at times before settling into more comfortable depth spots. The best player from this class might be Ogbonnia, who’s slated to start in Los Angeles’ 3-4 front this year.
Los Angeles Rams
Round 3, Pick 104: Wisconsin G Logan Bruss
Round 4, Pick 142: South Carolina State CB Cobie Durant
Round 5, Pick 164: Notre Dame RB Kyren Williams
Round 6, Pick 211: UCLA S Quentin Lake
Round 6, Pick 212: Georgia CB Derion Kendrick
Round 7, Pick 235: Montana State LB Daniel Hardy
Round 7, Pick 253: Kansas State S Russ Yeast
Round 7, Pick 261: Michigan State OT AJ Arcuri
Original Grade: C
3-Year Grade: B-
This draft wasn’t flashy, but it got the job done. The Bruss pick didn’t pan out, but Durant and Kendrick are key pieces of depth in the Rams’ secondary, and both have started at times. Williams is entering his third year as the starting running back and is one of the more productive backs in the league. Lake is Los Angeles’ starting nickel corner and Arcuri is a deep reserve at tackle. With no picks in the top 100, the Rams completed their assignment. They took a bunch of swings and landed a few starters and some depth to complement their roster.
Miami Dolphins
Round 3, Pick 102: Georgia LB Channing Tindall
Round 4, Pick 125: Texas Tech WR Erik Ezukanma
Round 7, Pick 224: California LB Cameron Goode
Round 7, Pick 247: Kansas State QB Skylar Thompson
Original Grade: B
3-Year Grade: D-
Thompson is the only player saving this from being an outright F. With only four picks, it’s hard to have a well-rounded class. Still, not even getting a quality long-term depth guy from this group hurts. Tindall and Ezukanma are still on the roster, but both are deep reserves on a team that could use more playmakers at both positions. Thompson won the backup job early in his career and even started a playoff game with Tua Tagovailoa was out with an injury, but he ultimately couldn’t stick.
Minnesota Vikings
Round 1, Pick 32: Georgia S Lewis Cine
Round 2, Pick 42: Clemson CB Andrew Booth Jr.
Round 2, Pick 59: LSU G Ed Ingram
Round 3, Pick 66: Oklahoma LB Brian Asamoah
Round 4, Pick 118: Missouri CB Akayleb Evans
Round 5, Pick 165: Minnesota ED Esezi Otomewo
Round 5, Pick 169: North Carolina RB Ty Chandler
Round 6, Pick 184: Illinois OT Vederian Lowe
Round 6, Pick 191: Michigan State WR Jalen Nailor
Round 7, Pick 227: South Carolina TE Nick Muse
Original Grade: B
3-Year Grade: F
Asamoah is the only one of the Vikings’ first five picks in this draft still on the roster. That is an abysmal hit rate. Cine and Booth almost never saw the field when they were in Minnesota, Ingram started the past three seasons but was a liability and was traded away this offseason. Even Asamoah is a reserve linebacker who rarely plays.
Nailor eventually took over starting slot receiver duties and will battle free-agent signee Rondale Moore to retain them this year. Chandler has been a consistent contributor as a rotational depth running back. Everyone else in this class was an unmistakable bust.
New England Patriots
Round 1, Pick 29: Chattanooga G Cole Strange
Round 2, Pick 50: Baylor WR Tyquan Thornton
Round 3, Pick 85: Houston CB Marcus Jones
Round 4, Pick 121: Arizona State CB Jack Jones
Round 4, Pick 127: South Dakota State RB Pierre Strong Jr.
Round 4, Pick 137: Western Kentucky QB Bailey Zappe
Round 6, Pick 183: South Carolina RB Kevin Harris
Round 6, Pick 200: Northwest Missouri State DT Sam Roberts
Round 6, Pick 210: LSU G Chasen Hines
Round 7, Pick 245: Michigan G Andrew Stueber
Original Grade: D+
3-Year Grade: D+
Everyone and their grandmother blasted the Patriots for making the Strange pick when they did. He was overdrafted by about two rounds and has really struggled in the league so far. Thornton was likewise an overdraft, with his blazing sub-4.3 40-time pushing him several rounds higher up the board than he would’ve been taken otherwise. The immediate, resounding failure and public backlash of those two picks likely played a big part in former HC Bill Belichick losing his job with the franchise.
Still, New England found some value in the middle rounds. Marcus Jones has developed into a good slot corner and dynamic return specialist. Zappe started some games for the Patriots, though he’s since been cut. Strong became a solid change-of-pace back and kickoff returner, though he did so with the Browns.
New Orleans Saints
Round 1, Pick 11: Ohio State WR Chris Olave
Round 1, Pick 19: Northern Iowa OT Trevor Penning
Round 2, Pick 49: Tennessee CB Alontae Taylor
Round 5, Pick 161: Appalachian State LB D’Marco Jackson
Round 6, Pick 194: Air Force DT Jordan Jackson
Original Grade: D
3-Year Grade: C
I initially wanted to give the Saints a lower grade, but the Olave and Taylor picks were too good to go any lower than this. Olave is a star, a true offensive engine at receiver. The only thing holding him back in his career so far — besides poor quarterback play — is his concussion history. Taylor stepped into a big role in the New Orleans secondary almost immediately and lived up to his responsibility, making the Saints comfortable trading away Marshon Lattimore last season.
The Penning pick was a controversial one at the time, given he needed a lot of time to develop. That hasn’t happened at tackle despite ample opportunity, but the team is moving him to guard this year in the hopes that’ll play better to his strengths.
New York Giants
Round 1, Pick 5: Oregon ED Kayvon Thibodeaux
Round 1, Pick 7: Alabama OT Evan Neal
Round 2, Pick 43: Kentucky WR Wan’Dale Robinson
Round 3, Pick 67: North Carolina G Joshua Ezeudu
Round 3, Pick 81: LSU CB Cor’Dale Flott
Round 4, Pick 112: San Diego State TE Daniel Bellinger
Round 4, Pick 114: Iowa S Dane Belton
Round 5, Pick 146: Indiana LB Micah McFadden
Round 5, Pick 147: Arizona State DT D.J. Davidson
Round 5, Pick 173: North Carolina G Marcus McKethan
Round 6, Pick 182: Cincinnati LB Darrian Beavers
Original Grade: B
3-Year Grade: C
Criticizing the Thibodeaux and Neal picks is pure revisionist history. So it’s good that’s exactly what we’re here to do. Thibodeaux is a good player who can take another step, but he hasn’t justified using the No. 5 overall pick yet. Neal was probably the worst pick of the draft, as he was completely unplayable for two years at tackle before sliding into guard and being even worse there. He’s deeply buried on the depth chart at this point and if he plays for the Giants again, something’s gone wrong.
The rest of New York’s draft turned out much better, however. Robinson is a good slot receiver, Bellinger has started for a few seasons at tight end, and McFadden is a quality starting middle linebacker. Flott and Belton have started a bunch of games in the secondary, though some roster upgrades this offseason have pushed both to backup roles.
New York Jets
Round 1, Pick 4: Cincinnati CB Sauce Gardner
Round 1, Pick 10: Ohio State WR Garrett Wilson
Round 1, Pick 26: Florida State ED Jermaine Johnson II
Round 2, Pick 36: Iowa State RB Breece Hall
Round 3, Pick 101: Ohio State TE Jeremy Ruckert
Round 4, Pick 111: Louisiana OT Max Mitchell
Round 4, Pick 117: Texas A&M ED Micheal Clemons
Original Grade: A+
3-Year Grade: A+
The Jets had four of the first 36 picks and hit on every single one. Gardner and Wilson both won Rookie of the Year honors and have established themselves as premier talents at their respective positions. The trajectory for both is still looking up. Johnson is more of a run-stuffer than a dynamic pass rusher, but he’s cemented himself as a starter on that line.
Hall is a fan favorite and one of the more versatile backs in the league. The Mitchell pick didn’t work out, but Ruckert and Clemons have stayed on the roster as key depth at some positions of need.
Philadelphia Eagles
Round 1, Pick 13: Georgia DT Jordan Davis
Round 2, Pick 51: Nebraska C Cam Jurgens
Round 3, Pick 83: Georgia LB Nakobe Dean
Round 6, Pick 181: Kansas LB Kyron Johnson
Round 6, Pick 198: SMU TE Grant Calcaterra
Original Grade: A
3-Year Grade: B+
I’m probably harsher on this draft than most will be. Davis is a good player, but he plays a fairly limited role. He’s a rotational run-stuffer who hasn’t taken on more snaps and responsibility in the NFL than he did in college, which was the hope when drafting him. It’s tough to say he was worth the No. 13 overall pick.
Jurgens is easily the best player in this class, as he was a starter at right guard before transitioning to center to be Jason Kelce’s replacement. Dean has performed well when on the field, but has battled a lot of injuries to this point in his career. Calcaterra is a decent backup tight end.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Round 1, Pick 20: Pittsburgh QB Kenny Pickett
Round 2, Pick 52: Georgia WR George Pickens
Round 3, Pick 84: Texas A&M ED DeMarvin Leal
Round 4, Pick 138: Memphis WR Calvin Austin III
Round 6, Pick 208: Michigan State FB Connor Heyward
Round 7, Pick 225: Ole Miss ED Mark Robinson
Round 7, Pick 241: South Dakota State QB Chris Oladokun
Original Grade: B
3-Year Grade: D+
As I said in the intro, this quarterback class was a nightmare to parse at the time. Everyone knew it was a bad one, but most of us assumed positional value would push some up the board. As it turns out, most teams held strong to their evaluations. The Steelers fell for the hometown kid story and took Pickett two rounds before another quarterback came off the board.
I don’t want to be overly critical of a team in need of a quarterback taking a swing on one, but that pick was a bust and it had far-reaching effects. Missing on Pickett seems to have made the Steelers gun-shy about taking another quarterback, despite largely being in the same position they were in when they selected Pickett.
Elsewhere in the draft, Pickens was a steal where they got him in the middle second round, though they traded him to Dallas this offseason due to locker room concerns. Leal is still on the roster, though buried on the depth chart. Austin finally broke out in 2024, adding some much-needed speed to the offense.
San Francisco 49ers
Round 2, Pick 61: USC ED Drake Jackson
Round 3, Pick 93: LSU RB Tyrion Davis-Price
Round 3, Pick 105: SMU WR Danny Gray
Round 4, Pick 134: UTSA OT Spencer Burford
Round 5, Pick 172: Toledo CB Samuel Womack III
Round 6, Pick 187: Fordham OT Nick Zakelj
Round 6, Pick 220: Central Florida DT Kalia Davis
Round 6, Pick 221: Penn State CB Tariq Castro-Fields
Round 7, Pick 262: Iowa State QB Brock Purdy
Original Grade: C
3-Year Grade: B-
When you find your franchise quarterback in the seventh round, it’s hard to be too critical of the rest of the draft. Mr. Irrelevant himself, Purdy was thrust into the starting lineup as a rookie and it was immediately apparent that we all missed on this guy. He’s every bit deserving of the massive contract he just signed.
Still, the rest of the draft left a lot to be desired. Jackson, Davis-Price and Gray were all monumental busts and none are on the roster anymore. Burford and Womack are good players, though Womack is now with the Colts after being a casualty of a deep Niners secondary. Hitting on the Purdy pick is all well and good, but lighting mid-round picks on fire for several years in a row has decimated San Francisco’s depth.
Seattle Seahawks
Round 1, Pick 9: Mississippi State OT Charles Cross
Round 2, Pick 40: Minnesota ED Boye Mafe
Round 2, Pick 41: Michigan State RB Kenneth Walker III
Round 3, Pick 72: Washington State OT Abraham Lucas
Round 4, Pick 109: Cincinnati CB Coby Bryant
Round 5, Pick 153: UTSA CB Riq Woolen
Round 5, Pick 158: Ohio State ED Tyreke Smith
Round 7, Pick 229: Rutgers WR Bo Melton
Round 7, Pick 233: Lenoir-Rhyne WR Dareke Young
Original Grade: B+
3-Year Grade: A
This draft may not have looked like anything special at the time, but it built the core of what’s been a fringe playoff team the last few seasons. Cross turned out to be the best of the “big three” tackle prospects in this class by a mile. Paired with Lucas in the third round, the Seahawks found their tackle duo of the future in one draft — as long as Lucas can stay healthy.
Walker is one of the more underrated backs in the league, and Mafe took a big leap forward last year as a foundational pass rusher. Woolen hit his higher-end outcome as a developmental prospect, and Bryant transitioned to safety where he’s been a big-play machine.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Round 2, Pick 33: Houston ED Logan Hall
Round 2, Pick 57: Central Michigan OT Luke Goedeke
Round 3, Pick 91: Arizona State RB Rachaad White
Round 4, Pick 106: Washington TE Cade Otton
Round 4, Pick 133: Georgia P Jake Camarda
Round 5, Pick 157: Sam Houston State CB Zyon McCollum
Round 6, Pick 218: Minnesota TE Ko Kieft
Round 7, Pick 248: LSU ED Andre Anthony
Original Grade: B+
3-Year Grade: B
This is a draft of extremes. Hall has played a lot of snaps on the Bucs’ line but made very little impact. Goedeke, on the other hand, struggled at guard initially before finding his home at right tackle. Missing on Hall hurts, but hitting on Goedeke softens that blow considerably.
White started for a few years at running back and still figures to be a major part of the offense behind Bucky Irving. Otton is still the starting tight end and has been a key chain-mover for Tampa Bay. Camarda is no longer with the team, highlighting the dangers of selecting a punter at all, let alone in the fourth round. To round things out, McCollum stepped into a starting role last year and knocked it out of the park, cementing himself as a key piece in the secondary moving forward.
Tennessee Titans
Round 1, Pick 18: Arkansas WR Treylon Burks
Round 2, Pick 35: Auburn CB Roger McCreary
Round 3, Pick 69: Ohio State OT Nicholas Petit-Frere
Round 3, Pick 86: Liberty QB Malik Willis
Round 4, Pick 131: Michigan RB Hassan Haskins
Round 4, Pick 143: Maryland TE Chigoziem Okonkwo
Round 5, Pick 163: UCLA WR Kyle Phillips
Round 6, Pick 204: Tennessee S Theo Jackson
Round 6, Pick 219: Ole Miss LB Chance Campbell
Original Grade: C+
3-Year Grade: D
Even ignoring the fact that the Titans traded A.J. Brown for the privilege of drafting Burks, this haul aged quite poorly. Burks has largely been phased out of the offense already and was one of the bigger busts of the first round. McCreary is a solid slot corner, but Petit-Frere was a consistent liability in the starting lineup and is no longer on the team.
Willis became a good backup for the Packers after being traded last offseason, and though Okonkwo’s production has dipped, he’s maintained his starting job. Phillips made a splash as a rookie but was subsequently cut.
Washington Commanders
Round 1, Pick 16: Penn State WR Jahan Dotson
Round 2, Pick 47: Alabama DT Phidarian Mathis
Round 3, Pick 98: Alabama RB Brian Robinson Jr.
Round 4, Pick 113: Louisiana S Percy Butler
Round 5, Pick 144: North Carolina QB Sam Howell
Round 5, Pick 149: Nevada TE Cole Turner
Round 7, Pick 230: Tulsa G Chris Paul
Round 7, Pick 240: Oklahoma State CB Christian Holmes
Original Grade: C
3-Year Grade: D-
Exactly one player from this class is a long-term quality player for the Commanders. That would be Robinson, who recovered from a gunshot wound to play as a rookie and has nailed down the starting job since. Butler and Paul are reserves and the only other two players still on the roster.
Dotson failed to build on a promising rookie season and was dealt to the Eagles prior to last year. Mathis was cut partway through last season.
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