Perceived Value: How likely are the selected players to meet their status in the draft? The final big table of the Bleacher Report Scouting section was heavily reviewed for this item. Roster Building: Getting the “best player available” looks great in a vacuum. However, the team must be a factor. Teams should look to find players who meet needs that appear in a two-year window. Asset optimization: Transactions made before the draft are not graded. This is about what the team did with what they had when the draft started. The previous options weigh more. This Day 3 candidate you love is more likely to fight for a place on the roster at camp time than to fight for a place in the Pro Bowl.
With this framework in place, see how each team did.
Rough grades have a bad reputation. There are definitely examples of high scoring players who end up being busty. There are also unannounced selections made by All-Pros.
Therefore, it is important to keep in mind what is being evaluated in each team’s performance rating practice. Here were the criteria for these grades:
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The Cardinals made eight choices, but it was a day plan that would set their weekend.
The Marquise Brown trade will obviously be the driving force behind this plan. It’s a win for the Cardinals, as Brown is a slight upgrade over Christian Kirk and the club have probably improved their relationship with Kyler Murray by acquiring his college team-mate.
However, leaving a champion for a player in the fourth year of his contract as a rookie degrades the movement.
Once the Cardinals started counting down the clock, they continued to help Murray build one of the best all-around tight ends for Trey McBride.
Rebuilding the defensive front with Cameron Thomas and Mizai Saunders after the loss of Chandler Jones this off-season made a lot of sense.
Grade: B-
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The Falcons should be applauded for not forcing a quarter in the first round. Entering the season with Marcus Mariota is not that exciting, but adding a jumbo receiver to Drake London will make his life easier. London was the top receiver among a talented class on the big B / R board.
The Falcons’s patience with the general paid off greatly with Desmond Ridder. He was the only general to receive a first round rank from the B / R Scouting Division and the Falcons took him to the third round.
In addition to assisting their attack after Matt Ryan, the Falcons became much more athletic on defense. Arnold Ebiketie is a little younger but has a great first step and Troy Andersen has the second highest relative athletic rating since 1987, per Kent Lee Platte of the Pro Football Network.
Tyler Allgeier has the opportunity to be a Day 3 choice that brings back value. He’s the kind of tough runner among the tackles the Falcons need to pair with Cordarrelle Patterson in the backcourt.
Grade A.
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Round 1 (14) – S Kyle Hamilton, Notre Dame Round 1 (25) – IOL Tyler Linderbaum, Iowa Round 2 (45) – Edge David Ojabo, Michigan Round 3 (76) – DI Travis Jones, Connecticut Round 4 (110) – OT Daniel Faalele, Minnesota Round 4 (119) – CB Jalyn Armor-Davis, Alabama Round 4 (128) – TE Charlie Kolar, Iowa Round 4 (130) – P Jordan Stout, Penn State Round 4 (139) – TE Isaiah Lokely, Coastal Carolina Round 4 (141) – CB Damarion Williams, Houston Round 6 (196) – RB Tyler Badie, Missouri
The Ravens had one of the best first rounds in terms of value. They started by taking one of the best players in the overall standings (seventh overall on the B / R big board) to Kyle Hamilton at 14. Then they traded Marquise Brown with a year left on his contract with the rookie to take No. 12 player on the B / R big board with the 25th option (initially the 23rd option and exchanged for the 25th).
The good news kept coming for the Ravens fans. David Ojabo could have been in the top 15 before tearing up his Achilles, and NFL Network Ian Rapoport has indicated he could be ready to go by October.
The Ravens should not bother to wait. They grabbed another prospect of a direct impact on Travis Jones in the third round. Jones brings a huge frame with athleticism being a passing factor.
In all, the Ravens are likely to leave this draft with four consistent players over the next two years. That’s not even counting some of the high-scoring Day 3 options, such as the huge attacking player Daniel Faalele and a pair of close-ups on Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar.
Grade: A +
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The Buffalo Bills are in contender mode, which means that if there is anyone available who could make a difference in the playoffs, it makes sense to be aggressive. This is exactly what they did when exchanging for Kaiir Elam. With all the talented passers in the AFC, Elam could be a crucial addition to the side.
James Cook adds another dynamic option that catches in the back to compete with Devin Singletari. This is an important step towards removing some of Josh Allen’s weight.
Overall, Day 2’s picks were not as inspiring, but they strengthened with Khalil Shakir in the fifth round. He was the 43rd player overall on the big B / R board and adds another young receiver to Josh Allen’s arsenal.
Shakir could easily show a high return on investment as the obvious successor to the newly acquired Jamison Crowder slot.
Degree: B
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Trading for Sam Darnold and CJ Henderson left the Carolina Panthers with a light supply of options. However, we are not here to rate these trades, so focusing is the sixth option here. What they did there was to add an absolute left tackle to an offensive line that was 31st in the final standings of the PFF.
This is not exactly the same as finding a franchise general, but it certainly makes it a more attractive landing spot for someone. Ekwonu was the third player on the big B / R board, so the value at No. 6 was as good as it could be.
The exchange for Matt Corral should be considered a victory. The Ole Miss product got a Round 3 rating from the B / R Scouting Department and the Panthers did not reach it. Not a bad investment for a potential beginner.
Brandon Smith is the most notable addition of Day 3. He will have to fight to get into the line-up.
Overall, the Panthers made two great choices for them with their top two picks. Since we only rate what happened on the draft weekend and forgive them for the Sam Darnold trade, that’s good.
Grade A-
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Round 2 (39) – CB Kyler Gordon, Washington Round 2 (48) – S Jaquan Brisker, Penn State Round 3 (71) – WR Velus Jones Jr., Tennessee Round 5 (168) – T Braxton Jones, Southern Utah Round 5 (174) – Edge Dominic Robinson, Miami (Ohio) Round 6 (186) – OT Zach Thomas, San Diego State Round 6 (203) – RB Trestan Ebner, Baylor Round 6 (207) – C Doug Kramer, Illinois Round 7 (226) – OT Ja’Tyre Carter, Southern University Round 7 (254) – S Elijah Hicks, California Round 7 (255) – P Trenton Gill, NC State
The Chicago Bears obviously take their reputation very seriously as a franchise that has developed great defenses. After hiring a defensive coach at Matt Eberflus, they made every second-round pick on the defensive side of the ball. Kyler Gordon and Jaquan Brisker bring good value and are capable of being key in the secondary. However, it is difficult to overcome the fact that the Bears did nothing to help Justin Fields in their best choices. The first attempt to help Fields was strange. Velus Jones Jr. has great speed, but so far. He will be 25 before the start of the season and has a lot to do before he is considered a well-rounded receiver. Even in the best case scenario, this draft only serves as a significant upgrade to the minor Bears. He does not do enough to help Fields, which should be the team’s top priority right now. Grade: C- 7 of 32 The Cincinnati Bengals did not use a first-round pick in defense against Williams Jackson III in 2016. So it makes sense that the Bengalis targeted Daxton Hill. Its value will eventually fall to the defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo who will find how to use it. He played mainly in the slot machine in Michigan, but he also has the athletic ability to play deeply. The defensive investment continued on Day 2, but the value was questionable. Both Cam Taylor-Britt and Zach Carter took more than 60 seats ahead of the B / R big board. After investing heavily in the offensive line in the free agent, the idea of using the draft to develop the defense is fine. But it is difficult to get too excited about what the Bengalis did in terms of value. Grade: B- 8 of 32 General Manager Andrew Berry channeled Kevin Costner’s interior here up and down the board. The Fitzgerald-Spielberger trading chart used by Over the Cap to analyze draft trades, Berry liked to return to the second round to get two fourth round options. The Cleveland Browns did well to find Martin Emerson – a long and natural corner – in the back of the second half. Fits what they are looking for in a corner and could contribute to a premium position. Alex Wright and David Bell have opposite perspectives. Wright’s athletic profile highlights his ability to be better in the NFL than in college, while Bell will have to overcome a general lack of athleticism to succeed in the league. This lesson would always be small for immediate impact players. This is the transaction cost for a …
