1. Cincinnati Bengals|Joe Burrow|QB|LSU: A
It has been talked about for ages and now it’s true. The obvious pick and the definition of a franchise changer. They did not bungle the pick which is a pleasant surprise. Now time to not waste the talent.
2. Washington Redskins|Chase Young|EDGE|OSU: A+
The best player in the draft at number 2 always means a QB went first. The Skins get a potential perennial pro-bowler you can be the best player on the team for a decade to come.
3.Detroit Lions|Jeffrey Okudah|CB|OSU: B+
This is a tough one to grade. Okudah is a great talent and fills a need for the Lions. I just feel they could have managed it better and traded back to get him hence preventing me from giving an A. Nonetheless, should be their #1 corner for years to come and fills a need for the Lions.
4. New York Giants|Andrew Thomas|OT|Georgia: B-
Good player with a high floor. In my opinion, top two tackle in the draft. That being said, New York could have traded down here and still gotten Thomas or Wills. Thomas stood out against top pass rush talent on a weekly basis and protects Daniel Jones.
5. Miami Dolphins|Tua Tagovailoa|QB|Oregon: A
The Dolphins get their guy without giving up any capital to move up. The Dolphins were the ones to medically clear Tua making them comfortable taking the ‘risk’ on him given his injures. Future potential franchise QB.
6. Los Angeles Chargers|Justin Herbert|QB|Alabama: C-
I don’t rate Herbert as a top QB prospect. This is too high for a player who did not improve much over his time at Oregon. I understand this pick might have been inevitable but I’d rather they have trade down for Love. He shouldn’t be going pick 6.
7. Carolina Panthers|Derrick Brown|DL|Auburn: A
Brown is a high floor player. He is simply dominate against the run. Brown could have gone third and no one would have questioned it. His ceiling will be determined by his ability to actually get to the QB, rather than just pressure.
8. Arizona Cardinals|Isaiah Simmons|LB|Clemson: A
The Cardinals had one of the worst defences in the NFL in 2019. It has gone a long way to rectify this after grabbing an arguably top 3 talent with the 8th pick in the class. Simmons is an absolute freak of an athlete who can play anywhere on the field and specifically will help guard Kittle and all the tight ends who torched them.
9. Jacksonville Jaguars|CJ Henderson|CB|Florida: B
This is a need filling pick rather than the best player available. He was the clear number two corner who should help recover the depleted Jackonsville secondary with Ramsey and Bouye gone. They could have gotten a better player but go safe in Henderson.
10. Cleveland Browns|Jedrick Wills|OT|Alabama: A
The Browns get one of the best, if not the best, offensive tackles in the class out of Alabama in Jedrick Wills. Wills is a high floor prospect with great feet and technique and will go long way protecting Mayfield – especially paired with FA signing Jack Conklin.
11. New York Jets|Mekhi Becton|OT|Louisville: C-
This was the wrong pick. The Jets could have grabbed Wirfs or a top receiver but instead get deceived by Becton’s size. Becton has to improve a lot to get the potential that Wirfs already has. The Jets are in a position where they need more sure talent, not risk.
12. Las Vegas Raiders|Henry Ruggs|WR|Alabama: D+
The Raiders’ 2019 draft class was criticised but proved everyone wrong, so maybe I should not bag this pick. But Lamb and Jeudy were there for the taking, and yet they go the speedster in hopes he becomes Tyreek Hill. Don’t get me wrong, talented player but should not be going this high – especially with the talent available.
13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers(From SF)|Tristan Wirfs|OT|Iowa: A
Tampa jumped ahead of SF to ensure they get the last of the consensus top tackles in Tristan Wirfs and they’ll be beaming. Wirfs fell to them without having to trade up too much to ensure they protect Brady. Good pick.
14. San Francisco 49ers (From TB)|Javon Kinlaw|IDL|South Carolina: B
I am a big fan of Kinlaw but surprised the Niners decided to take him. They replaced star defender Buckner with Kinlaw in attempt to not see a decline in their defence. I would have probably gone with Lamb or Jeudy, but Kinlaw has the potential to make them forget about Buckner.
15. Denver Broncos|Jerry Jeudy|WR|Alabama: A
If Denver traded up to get Jeudy, it would have been a smart move. They were able to stay still and get one of the better receiving talents in the last few years. Great player, great pick and a great talent to pair with Lock.
16. Atlanta Falcons|A.J. Terrell|CB|Clemson: C-
Swing and a miss here. Terrell is alright but the Falcons defence needed a bigger splash then this. They clearly wanted to trade up and the guys they liked did not fall, but I don’t think Terrell is the third best corner and definitely not the 16th best player. That being said, Terrell should be a solid contributor and improve the Falcons horrible defence.
17. Dallas Cowboys|CeeDee Lamb|WR|Oklahoma: A-
Absolutely love the player – question the fit. They have a #1 WR in Cooper and a rising talent in Gallup. That being said, not getting Lamb, their weapons are scary. They go BPA – and give Dak a reason to sign that contract.
18. Miami Dolphins (From PIT)|Austin Jackson|OT|USC: D
This ain’t it. Jackson does not have the technique, hands or balance of a #18 pick. He is an athlete with potential for sure – and I understand trying to protect Tua – but better players were available, including at the offensive tackle position.
19. Las Vegas Raiders (From CHI)|Damon Arnette|CB|OSU: C
I am a big fan of Arnette, I think that he has first round talent. But this is probably a reach. Many had Arnette as a day 2 player. The Raiders were right to take a wr and a cb in the first round, but they could have done better with both.
20. Jacksonville Jaguars (From LAR)|K’Lavon Chaisson |EDGE|LSU: A-
Chaisson falls to Jacksonville here in the exact same fashion that edge player Josh Allen did last year and look how that turned out. Chaisson is a talented athlete with all the attributes you want in a pass rusher, though his production left some to desire. But his pairing with Allen will be a lot of fun to watch and Jaguars will be thrilled he fell.
21. Philadelphia Eagles|Jalen Reagor|WR|TCU: C
Don’t mind the player but Justin Jefferson was right there for the taking. I fully expected to see Eagles trade up, especially with Lamb falling, but their division rival snatched him before they could. Reagor is a speedster who fills a need, but the night didn’t go great for Philly.
22. Minnesota Vikings (From BUF)|Justin Jefferson|WR|LSU: A-
Jefferson fell into the Vikings hand who replace Diggs with the pick they got for him. Funnily enough I liked Reagor to the Vikings here and Jefferson to the Eagles before Philly messed that up. The big question is now the Vikings have two slot receivers but the talent is there with Jefferson – really good pick.
23. Los Angeles Chargers (from NE)|Kenneth Murray |LB|Oklahoma: A-
Love the player and the fit. No doubts here and he has the potential to be the best player on their defence. I honestly would argue he may be a top 10 talent. This trade did cost the Chargers their second- and third-round picks which one could argue that Herbert should have been given more weapons but I like it.
24. New Orleans Saints|Cesar Ruiz|IOL|Michigan: B+
I loved the fit of Murray to the Saints here and was surprised when he they just missed out on him. Cesar Ruiz was a great decision here though as they showed weakness here in the playoffs. Ruiz can play guard or center and helps the Saints’ super bowl ambitions.
25. San Francisco 49ers(from MIN)|Brandon Aiyuk|WR|ASU: C-
Good, hard-working player who improves the receiving options for the Niners. I question the trade up for him, especially given Aiyuk may have been available at 31.
26. Green Bay Packers|Jordan Love|QB|Utah St: D-
Tough one to grade. Love was my number 3 QB in the class (even over Herbert) and I actually like the fit. Learning under Rodgers screams fairy tale rise just as Rodgers learned under Favre. But to take him in the first round (as a team with a QB) and trade up for him is very puzzling. The Packers have super bowl aspirations and need pieces to get them there, not a retirement plan. The failure to build towards a super bowl (the point of the draft) is why I give it a D-, though I really like the player.
27. Seattle Seahawks|Jordyn Brooks|LB|Texas Tech: C
The Seahawks land a talented player to improve their linebacker needs in a stacked division. Questionable move as both Jones and Wilson were available at OT to protect Wilson. They could’ve at least traded down and still got Brooks and LB is not a great need for them. He’ll need to be more than a solid contributor to make this anymore than an average pick.
28. Baltimore Ravens|Patrick Queen|LB|LSU: A
The Ravens front office continue to look smarter and smarter as this off-season goes on. After a great FA period, one of the already best teams in football add a top 3 linebacker at the back end of the first round. Great pick by the Ravens who will given Queen a place to thrive.
29. Tennessee Titans|Isaiah Wilson|OT|Georgia:B-
Good pick here by the Titans who improve their offensive line and protect their new big contract QB. They replace the departed Conklin with a very talented prospect. The Titans make the sensible pick here.
30. Miami Dolphins (From HOU)|Noah Igbinoghene|CB|Auburn: D-
Do not like this pick. A large chunk of the Dolphins cap goes to two corners already in Howard and Jones yet they spend a first on another one? I didn’t like the Austin Jackson pick but at least the position and upside made sense. Miami should have been using this pick to help Tua not improve a secondary need that another pick could have got.
31. Minnesota Vikings(From SF)|Jeff Gladney|CB|TCU: B+
The Vikings take the player KC apparently wanted just in time. Minnesota had two needs to fill in the first round – corner and receiver and they have done just that with arguably both being steals. Gladney is a good player and I like the fit here – and they traded down to get him. The Vikings had a very successful night.
32. Kansas City Chiefs|Clyde Edwards-Helaire|RB|LSU- A
Edwards-Helaire is not the best running back in this class despite being the first one taken but he is an amazing fit with the Chiefs. He is probably the best receiving back and will be an absolute weapon for Andy Reid and Patty Mahomes. The best team in the NFL just filled one of their needs in the best way possible. This is how a team retains the super bowl.