1. Tennessee Titans: Cam Ward, Miami (FL), QB, Senior | B+
The result that was expected to happen over the past two months is finally a reality. From a zero-star coming out of high school, to Incarnate Word, to Wazzu, to Miami, to now Tennessee, it’s been one heck of a ride for Ward. Is he the best player in this draft? No. But is he the best quarterback? Yes. Tennessee desperately needs one, and they got one.
2. TRADE | Jacksonville Jaguars: Travis Hunter, Colorado, WR/CB, Junior | B
We have our first trade! The Jags come up three spots, and they give up a king’s ransom to do that. Trading up for Hunter is great, but wow, they gave up a lot. Did they give up too much? Well, Hunter is the best player in this draft, which is why I can’t give this a super low grade. When you’re trading up for a dual-threat player like Hunter, you’re trading up for two players.
3. New York Giants: Abdul Carter, Penn State, ED, Junior | A-
While edge is not the most pressing need for the Giants, you can’t fault them for taking one of the two most premium players in this draft. Carter has all of the potential in the world to be one of, if not the, best edge in the entire league. Pair him with edge Brian Burns and watch out.
4. New England Patriots: Will Campbell, LSU, T, Junior | B
With Carter and Hunter off the board, the Patriots pivot to improving the trenches for quarterback Drake Maye. And how can you blame them? How many times have you heard this: when you have a young quarterback, you either give him weapons or protection. When it comes to protection, it’s hard to find someone better than Campbell.
5. TRADE | Cleveland Browns: Mason Graham, Michigan, DI, Junior | A
After trading back with Jacksonville, the Browns drafted Graham from Michigan. With this pick, you can’t go wrong considering the haul you got from trading away the second pick. You’re setting yourself up for the future, and you still get a player that can be the staple of Cleveland’s defensive line for years to come.
6. Las Vegas Raiders: Ashton Jeanty, Boise State, RB, Junior | A-
Many thought this was going to be a tackle, but the Raiders went offense with their pick. Jeanty is a blue-chip prospect and will thrive in Vegas. Some have their reservations about picking a running back this high, but considering how good Jeanty is, I think he’s worth the sixth selection.
7. New York Jets: Armand Membou, Missouri, T, Junior | B+
With their first pick, the Jets invest in the trenches and give new quarterback Justin Fields some much-needed protection. This is back-to-back years the Jets have used a first-round pick on a tackle. Last year, it was Penn State tackle Olu Fashanu. This year, it’s Armand Membou. If everything works out for all parties involved, New York has their bookend tackles for years to come.
8. Carolina Panthers: Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona, WR, Junior | A-
I can’t say I saw this one coming. Insiders were convinced this was going to be an edge, but Carolina decided to hand quarterback Bryce Young a new big-bodied weapon. The Panthers still have high hopes for Young, and giving him a new wideout to work with is great for both sides.
9. New Orleans Saints: Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas, T, Junior | B
Three tackles are off the board in the top ten when the Big Easy selected Banks from Texas. The Saints are another team, just like the Jets, that double-dipped on offensive linemen over the past two first rounds. They’re building their team starting from up front, and that’s a good way to manage a team.
10. Chicago Bears: Colston Loveland, Michigan, TE, Junior | A
The Bears go tight end, but maybe not the tight end you were expecting. Instead of selecting Penn State tight end Tyler Warren, they drafted Loveland. I prefer Warren, but you can’t go wrong with Loveland. They already have tight end Cole Kmet, who is more of a blocking threat than a receiving threat. Loveland, with all of the other weapons that the Bears have, creates a dangerous offense for new head coach Ben Johnson.
11. San Francisco 49ers: Mykel Williams, Georgia, ED, Junior | B+
Edge Nick Bosa has a new dancing partner with the eleventh pick in this draft, Williams from Georgia. I love this spot for Williams. The Niners desperately need to upgrade their pass rush, and Williams will be able to learn from Bosa and benefit from all the double-teams that he commands.
12. Dallas Cowboys: Tyler Booker, Alabama, G, Junior | C+
More offensive lineman! This time, it’s Booker from Alabama heading to Dallas. Without guard Zack Martin there anymore, the Cowboys need to address that loss. While Booker isn’t the flashiest prospect, he fills a need for the Cowboys and will be ready to start day one. The Tylers in Dallas (Guyton, Smith, and now Booker) will be fun to watch.
13. Miami Dolphins: Kenneth Grant, Michigan, DI, Junior | B-
Wow, three Michigan players in the top 13. The Dolphins needed to upgrade their defensive line with some beef, and at 6-foot-4 and 331 pounds, Grant brings that beef. This is a slight reach, and I would’ve preferred to target a cornerback here, but this is still a solid pick.
14. Indianapolis Colts: Tyler Warren, Penn State, TE, Senior | A
I was truly not expecting Warren to be here for the Colts to draft, so I’m sure they’re elated to snag him. He’s one of the best players in this class, and also one of the most dangerous weapons. Indy needed to help out their quarterback (whoever that ends up being), and Warren does just that.
15. Atlanta Falcons: Jalon Walker, Georgia, ED, Junior | B
Everyone knew the Falcons were going to target an edge, and they did just that by keeping Walker in state. The NFL loves the high-upside edge, Walker is the embodiment of that. He’s extremely versatile, athletic, and has all of the talent in the world. Great pick.
16. Arizona Cardinals: Walter Nolen, Ole Miss, DI, Junior | B+
I like this pick a lot. Nolen has all of the tools to be a dominant force up the middle for the Cards. It fills a need for them, and I think this is pretty good value. Don’t be surprised if, in five years, we come back to this pick and see it as one of the best picks in this first round.
17. Cincinnati Bengals: Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M, ED, Junior | B
With trade rumors flying around regarding edge Trey Hendrickson, it’s a good idea to attack edge with this pick. If Hendrickson stays, that’s a perfect player to mentor Stewart. If Hendrickson leaves, the Bengals could have their edge for the future. I hope, for Stewart’s sake, that Hendrickson sticks around so that Stewart can develop properly.
18. Seattle Seahawks: Grey Zabel, North Dakota State, G, Senior | A-
Seattle had one of the worst offensive lines in the league last year, so addressing the line with their first pick is smart. Zabel is one of the best interior offensive linemen in this class and will be a plug-and-play guard for the Seahawks.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State, WR, Senior | C+
It’s hard to find a player who had a better predraft process than Egbuka. He shined in the interview, and I’m sure that’s a big reason why the Bucs took him here. I don’t know if I agree with picking a wideout here if you’re Tampa Bay, considering they have wideouts Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, but Egbuka is a “can’t miss” prospect, so I can understand it.
20. Denver Broncos: Jahdae Barron, Texas, CB, Senior | A-
It’s not a running back! I was expecting Omarion Hampton or TreVeyon Henderson here, but the Broncos selected to give corner Pat Surtain II a new dancing partner. The Broncos already had one of the best secondaries in the league, and that secondary got a whole lot better.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Derrick Harmon, Oregon, DI, Junior (RS) | B+
It’s not a quarterback. I was expecting the Steelers to take the Hall-of-Fame son from Colorado. However, they elected to draft Harmon from Oregon instead. Before Harmon was a beast for the Ducks, he was also a beast for your very own Michigan State Spartans. He transferred out of East Lansing and flourished in Eugene. Harmon fills a big need for the Steelers. Defensive tackle Cameron Heyward isn’t getting any younger, and they don’t have many other options after that. Harmon will help day one, but my question is, who is the quarterback for this team next year?
22. Los Angeles Chargers: Omarion Hampton, North Carolina, RB, Junior | A-
Awesome pick! Hampton is one of my favorite players from this class. He gets overshadowed by Jeanty, but he’s a top 15 talent. I will say, though, that the running back room is loaded now. They already had J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards, and then they signed Najee Harris this offseason. Regardless, Hampton is the most talented back LA has seen in a minute.
23. Green Bay Packers: Matthew Golden, Texas, WR, Junior | B+
It has finally happened. The Packers selected a wide receiver. That receiver, Golden, is an awesome player. In a room full of five-star talent at Texas, Golden was the alpha. Now Golden is in Green Bay’s receiver room, which is filled with talent. Let’s see if he can become the alpha in Green Bay.
24. Minnesota Vikings: Donovan Jackson, Ohio State, G, Senior | C+
Not the most exciting of picks, but Jackson is a steady player. He’s technically sound and will plug right into the Vikings’ o-line. I’m surprised the Vikings didn’t target a player in the secondary, but Jackson is a solid pick regardless.
25. TRADE | New York Giants: Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss, QB, Senior | C-
Shedeur Sanders keeps slipping. Instead of drafting him, the Giants moved back into the first round and drafted Dart from Ole Miss. I’m not surprised that this happened, but I am surprised that they did this with Sanders still on the board. This is a good spot for Dart to land. He can sit and develop behind quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston, and hopefully will become the franchise guy in New York.
26. TRADE | Atlanta Falcons: James Pearce Jr., Tennessee, ED, Junior | D
Back-to-back trades! This time, it’s Atlanta coming back into the first round for James Pearce Jr. They gave up a ton…just to double dip on edge. I like the idea of attacking a need with two picks instead of one, but did you need to give up all of that trade capital? I’m not sure.
27. Baltimore Ravens: Malaki Starks, Georgia, S, Junior | A
How do they keep doing it!? The Ravens, year after year, draft steal and steal. Starks is another one of those steals. He’s a top-ten player in the draft, and now he’s paired with a superstar safety to create one of the best safety duos in the entire league.
28. Detroit Lions: Tyliek Williams, Ohio State, DI, Senior | C+
This was a surprise pick to me. I thought the Lions would’ve targeted another position before they targeted the interior defensive line. Williams is a solid player. He’s a ginormous human being who’ll be a space-eater in Detroit.
29. Washington Commanders: Josh Conerly Jr., Oregon, T, Junior | B-
After an amazing year for the Commanders, they decided to give quarterback Jayden Daniels more protection. Conerly was productive at Oregon and is one of the top tackle prospects in the class. Conerly, combined with all the other additions that they’ve made this offseason, gives Daniels the best chance to succeed in year two.
30. Buffalo Bills: Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky, CB, Junior (RS) | B
The speedster is heading to Buffalo. This is such a Bills-type of pick. They need cornerback help, and Hariston gives them just that. His speed, size, and feistiness will play well in the New York State.
31. TRADE | Philadelphia Eagles: Jihaad Campbell, Alabama, LB, Junior | A
After trading up just one spot with the team they beat in the Super Bowl, the Eagles drafted Jihaad Campbell. Campbell slipped to 31 because of injury concerns, but even with those concerns, this is a great pick. It makes that dominant defense even better.
32. TRADE | Kansas City Chiefs: Josh Simmons, Ohio State, T, Junior (RS) | A
Instead of the Eagles, it’s the Chiefs ending night one with one of the best picks of the first round. To cap the night, the Chiefs select Simmons from Ohio State. He does have injury concerns, but Simmons showed flashes last season that tell me he could be the best tackle from this class. Kansas City needed to improve their offensive line, and they did they in a big way.
