Who do you think had the best and worst drafts?

[RunKC]

Think the Chiefs made out nicely here with a lot of value on day 3 and potentially day 1.

Thought these teams did a really good job:

Panthers-can’t love their draft enough. McMillan and Etienne will help Bryce quickly. Loved that they did go full Falcons and panic giving up assets for a pass rusher. Scourton and Princely were excellent value where they got them and should help their pass rusher this year.

Bears-Loveland and Burden were great picks. Loved Ozzy and Turner. First 4 picks were excellent.

Patriots-first 3 picks were excellent value and should make an immediate impact. Farmer and Wilson were steals where they got them.

Ravens-standard procedure for them. Best team at drafting value.

Cardinals-quietly got some dudes. Nolan, Johnson and Burch were outstanding first 3 picks to me. Rest of their picks were really good value to me and most of them should get playtime quickly.

I thought the Bengals looked like a team with only 4 personnel draft folks. They couldn’t stop the pass last year, benched Taylor-Britt bc he was so bad and still didn’t draft a single DB. Also Shemar Stewart was well known as overrated by many folks.

Also it felt like Denver and Buffalo drafted solely to copy the Eagles. “Find our version of Cooper DeJean” and either build your running game (Denver) or pass rush (Buffalo).

[fuzzy]

The Baltimore Ravens. Why? Because I've been watching football for 3 decades. And I've never see a team that consistently drafts so well. They've earned the benefit of the doubt.

FFS their first 2 picks in franchise history were Ogden and Lewis.

[Wallymo]

Originally Posted by RunKC

I thought the Bengals looked like a team with only 4 personnel draft folks. They couldn’t stop the pass last year, benched Taylor-Britt bc he was so bad and still didn’t draft a single DB. Also Shemar Stewart was well known as overrated by many folks.

After Shemar, who has never produced, the Bengals drafted two guards, two linebackers and a running back. I don't need even one scout to tell me that's awful value.

[Couch-Potato]

I liked…

Cardinals first 4 picks were solid

ATL, BAL, and IND all had a couple of really solid picks in their top 3

I think CLE actually had a sneaky good draft, despite all the QBs on that roster

SEA and TB got some quality players too

KC was amongst the best drafts, again, top 3 I’d say.

[kccrow]

NE had the best draft, in my eyes. Their top four picks could all be starters, and I see impact there through the fifth round for them. Will Campbell should start at LT. Jared Wilson, I think, puts Bradberry on the bench at OC. Williams pushes that WR corps. While I think Boutte should start next to Diggs with Douglas in the slot this year, and Williams learning as the #4 for a year behind Diggs, Williams does actually fit best in the slot where Douglas is entrenched. It'll be interesting. What's more interesting is what they'll do with both of their picks at WR last year in Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker. Moving on, Henderson is likely to get a significant load at RB and might start over Stevenson. It doesn't matter, though, he's going to get a ton of work in the passing game. Farmer was a steal in the 4th at DT, and Woodson was good value at S. I think Swinson, even as a 5th rounder, has the opportunity to move up their poor OLB depth chart and have some impact.

The NYJ had a good draft. Their top two picks will start in Membou at RT and Taylor at TE, and I like the depth pieces they added all the way through, sans Arian Smith. Azareye'h Thomas might start on most teams but provides outstanding depth behind Sauce Gardner and Brandon Stephens, who might be the best tandem in the NFL now. Malachi Moore will get to learn behind Tony Adams (on a 1 year deal) and might be a starter in 2026. Mauigoa is a great depth pick behind Williams and Sherwood at LB. I thought Tyler Baron could be a nice depth pickup in the 5th at DE.

It's difficult to ignore the competence with which LV drafted this year. Jeanty, Bech, and Porter should all be immediate starters. Thornton is a nice depth piece at WR. Rogers might start at LG, and Grant is a nice developmental player behind Miller and might even push Glaze at RT. I'm not going to sleep on their 6th round conversion project to WR in Tommy Mellott, who has great size, speed, and agility to make that switch from QB. He's going to be an immediate factor on special teams.

I quietly loved what the Giants did. Top pass rusher with Carter, good QB prospect in Dart, then added Skattebo to pair with Tracy. Alexander will be a nice rotational DT that could end up a starter sooner rather than later if he can push Nunez-Roches. Mbow was an absolute steal at OG in the 5th.

CHI had to have a quality draft with all those 2nds, and they did. Loveland and Burden make that offense insane. Trapilo could push Braxton Jones at LT. Shemar Turner behind Grady Jarrett for a year is going to be good for him. I won't put it in the top 5, but they had a good draft.

People are squawking about the Falcons, but I liked their aggressiveness. They got their QB last year, and they had an offense largely ready to rock. They needed defense, especially the pass rush, and they went out and attacked it. Sure, they gave up next year's #1, but they got two of the best 3-4 ER prospects in this entire draft. Then they went on to get a ballhawk at FS in Watts in the 3rd and an outstanding NB in Bowman in the 4th, who was a steal. Adding those DBs to a great SS in Bates and CB in Terrell, plus having two guys that can scream off the edge, is going to pay off.

I liked what New Orleans did a bunch. Banks fixes LT and lets Fuaga move to his natural RT spot. Penning moves to depth. Sanker will get a year to learn from Mathieu, and he was a great pick. Stutsman, I think, learns for a year behind Demario Davis (who better) and can start in 2026, plus he's great depth. Riley was a great depth play at CB and might push Yiadom. Broughton will be an immediate pass-rush factor in the DT rotation next to Breese. RB Devin Neal and TE Moliki Matavao were steals in the 6th and 7th rounds. I only really question Shough in the 2nd round. I don't think he's a multiplier. He might carry you through a Carr injury, but future starter?

[MahomesMagic]

Originally Posted by kccrow

NE had the best draft, in my eyes. Their top four picks could all be starters, and I see impact there through the fifth round for them. Will Campbell should start at LT. Jared Wilson, I think, puts Bradberry on the bench at OC. Williams pushes that WR corps. While I think Boutte should start next to Diggs with Douglas in the slot this year, and Williams learning as the #4 for a year behind Diggs, Williams does actually fit best in the slot where Douglas is entrenched. It'll be interesting. What's more interesting is what they'll do with both of their picks at WR last year in Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker. Moving on, Henderson is likely to get a significant load at RB and might start over Stevenson. It doesn't matter, though, he's going to get a ton of work in the passing game. Farmer was a steal in the 4th at DT, and Woodson was good value at S. I think Swinson, even as a 5th rounder, has the opportunity to move up their poor OLB depth chart and have some impact.

The NYJ had a good draft. Their top two picks will start in Membou at RT and Taylor at TE, and I like the depth pieces they added all the way through, sans Arian Smith. Azareye'h Thomas might start on most teams but provides outstanding depth behind Sauce Gardner and Brandon Stephens, who might be the best tandem in the NFL now. Malachi Moore will get to learn behind Tony Adams (on a 1 year deal) and might be a starter in 2026. Mauigoa is a great depth pick behind Williams and Sherwood at LB. I thought Tyler Baron could be a nice depth pickup in the 5th at DE.

It's difficult to ignore the competence with which LV drafted this year. Jeanty, Bech, and Porter should all be immediate starters. Thornton is a nice depth piece at WR. Rogers might start at LG, and Grant is a nice developmental player behind Miller and might even push Glaze at RT. I'm not going to sleep on their 6th round conversion project to WR in Tommy Mellott, who has great size, speed, and agility to make that switch from QB. He's going to be an immediate factor on special teams.

I quietly loved what the Giants did. Top pass rusher with Carter, good QB prospect in Dart, then added Skattebo to pair with Tracy. Alexander will be a nice rotational DT that could end up a starter sooner rather than later if he can push Nunez-Roches. Mbow was an absolute steal at OG in the 5th.

CHI had to have a quality draft with all those 2nds, and they did. Loveland and Burden make that offense insane. Trapilo could push Braxton Jones at LT. Shemar Turner behind Grady Jarrett for a year is going to be good for him. I won't put it in the top 5, but they had a good draft.

People are squawking about the Falcons, but I liked their aggressiveness. They got their QB last year, and they had an offense largely ready to rock. They needed defense, especially the pass rush, and they went out and attacked it. Sure, they gave up next year's #1, but they got two of the best 3-4 ER prospects in this entire draft. Then they went on to get a ballhawk at FS in Watts in the 3rd and an outstanding NB in Bowman in the 4th, who was a steal. Adding those DBs to a great SS in Bates and CB in Terrell, plus having two guys that can scream off the edge, is going to pay off.

I liked what New Orleans did a bunch. Banks fixes LT and lets Fuaga move to his natural RT spot. Penning moves to depth. Sanker will get a year to learn from Mathieu, and he was a great pick. Stutsman, I think, learns for a year behind Demario Davis (who better) and can start in 2026, plus he's great depth. Riley was a great depth play at CB and might push Yiadom. Broughton will be an immediate pass-rush factor in the DT rotation next to Breese. RB Devin Neal and TE Moliki Matavao were steals in the 6th and 7th rounds. I only really question Shough in the 2nd round. I don't think he's a multiplier. He might carry you through a Carr injury, but future starter?

On the Giants love Abdul Carter but don't care at all about Dart.

[DJ's left nut]

I thought the Broncos draft was complete shite and I don't seem to see many folks who agree with me.

[Buehler445]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

I thought the Broncos draft was complete shite and I don't seem to see many folks who agree with me.

I think it's fire roasted ass. But I'm open to being biased.

[Buehler445]

I remain perplexed by WTF the Panthers are doing. I keep reading that they want the ball out of Young's hands quickly and back to a west coast precision passing game.

So they have a roster full of jump ball receivers? WTF?

I thought they got good value on Ettienne, but What the actual ****?

[kccrow]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

I thought the Broncos draft was complete shite and I don't seem to see many folks who agree with me.

I doubt you will. It wasn't all that much ass, they just took players people didn't expect them to.

Jahdae Barron plays like a healthy, prime, L'Jarius Sneed. He's going to lock the NB position down. They definitely have an outstanding set of CBs now with Surtain and Moss.

RJ Harvey was one of the top 5 RBs in the class. His lone major knock is pass blocking, but he's a 1500 yard RB at 6.5 YPC and 20 catches per year in college. He's going to be featured, and he's going to factor catching the ball out of the backfield, plus he's got 4.40 speed.

I do question the pick of Pat Bryant a bit but he's a good WR and he does fit that slightly larger model that their head dipshit likes. He was productive in the B1G so you can't shit on that too much. I thought Jaylin Noel was probably the 5th best WR in this class and he went as the next WR.

Everyone and their brother on this board wanted Sai'Vion Jones. He's a perfect fit as a 3-4 DE in their scheme. With Zach Allen in the final year of his deal, that pick makes a ton of sense at the bottom of the 3rd.

Que Robinson is a shot in the dark pick in the late 4th, I get that for sure. I don't like it. I would have opted for Bradyn Swinson there. Robinson is just a lump of clay they have to hope they can turn into a player. That's probably a 6th or 7th round guy there. Meh.

After that, they addressed special teams, and it really doesn't matter. Most guys in the 6th and 7th don't make teams so who cares at that point. Lohner, though, that's a Antonio Gates type of shot in the dark. He was a solid basketball player for Utah. That's a PS developmental guy. Don't see the need to draft him but like I said, a late 7th probably isn't making it anyhow.

[MahomesMagic]

Originally Posted by Buehler445

I remain perplexed by WTF the Panthers are doing. I keep reading that they want the ball out of Young's hands quickly and back to a west coast precision passing game.

So they have a roster full of jump ball receivers? WTF?

I thought they got good value on Ettienne, but What the actual ****?

This was a much weaker draft than many years at WR but Tet is going to be actual weapon for their QB.


Possession WR's don't have to just catch jump balls, they can use their frame to makes themselves available as long as the QB has good ball placement.


See Burrow and Tee Higgins.

[Buehler445]

Originally Posted by MahomesMagic

This was a much weaker draft than many years at WR but Tet is going to be actual weapon for their QB.


Possession WR's don't have to just catch jump balls, they can use their frame to makes themselves available as long as the QB has good ball placement.


See Burrow and Tee Higgins.

Right, but big dudes aren't conducive to getting open fast in the quick, precision passing game. Hence why Reid doesn't get any of those dudes.

Their skill positions are put together like they have a 6'4 stand in the pocket guy. Young isn't that.

[DJ's left nut]

Crow,

I think Barron was redundant -- which doesn't matter if he's really good, but I think they had pressing needs they could've addressed there.

I think Harvey was early. By a fair bit. We'll see how it goes but I just don't see anything in there that screams 2nd round RB. He may get some yards by virtue of his OL and opportunity (they obviously needed a RB) but again, that seems like the sort of thing we did with Skyy -- they wanted a RB with that pick, the better ones were gone, so they went with a pure needs pick.

Bryant is just a slug. Won't get open. I thought of him as a 5th round flyer -- if that. In the 3rd round, that's just goofy.

Jones was a nice pick and as you noted, I don't really care much about the rest of them.

I just think there was more damage for them to do than what they actually did. I mean lets say they go with Hampton or Henderson (or Judkins if he's your flavor; isn't really mine) in the 1st and then Trey Amos in the 2nd (or Darien Porter) then Jaylin Noel in the 3rd instead of Pat Bryant. Same positions, better aggregate talent.

I just thought every pick they made, when they made it, was weird.

I didn't think they did nearly as much damage as they could've.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by Buehler445

Right, but big dudes aren't conducive to getting open fast in the quick, precision passing game. Hence why Reid doesn't get any of those dudes.

Their skill positions are put together like they have a 6'4 stand in the pocket guy. Young isn't that.

Exactly.

Young needs throwing lanes to even SEE his target. So you're asking him to either blindly trust his guy having body position OR you're asking his guy to not just get open but to get open where there are cracks in the OL so he can SEE that the guy is open.

Or you roll him out to create some of those throwing lanes but now you're cutting off half the field. Maybe that's the idea? If Young is rolling out and only really looking at half the field, maybe a big ol' bully ball WR is worthwhile?

I dunno...I'm just obviously unimpressed by big possession receivers. Have just never had much use for 'em. That might just be a 'me' problem.

[RunKC]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Crow,

I think Barron was redundant -- which doesn't matter if he's really good, but I think they had pressing needs they could've addressed there.

I think Harvey was early. By a fair bit. We'll see how it goes but I just don't see anything in there that screams 2nd round RB. He may get some yards by virtue of his OL and opportunity (they obviously needed a RB) but again, that seems like the sort of thing we did with Skyy -- they wanted a RB with that pick, the better ones were gone, so they went with a pure needs pick.

Bryant is just a slug. Won't get open. I thought of him as a 5th round flyer -- if that. In the 3rd round, that's just goofy.

Jones was a nice pick and as you noted, I don't really care much about the rest of them.

I just think there was more damage for them to do than what they actually did. I mean lets say they go with Hampton or Henderson (or Judkins if he's your flavor; isn't really mine) in the 1st and then Trey Amos in the 2nd (or Darien Porter) then Jaylin Noel in the 3rd instead of Pat Bryant. Same positions, better aggregate talent.

I just thought every pick they made, when they made it, was weird.

I didn't think they did nearly as much damage as they could've.

Based upon Denver media the Broncos wanted to trade up for Ashton Jeanty but that obviously fell through.

So they took Barron, who is really good, but thought about trading down and take Henderson? They also wanted one of the top TE’s by rd 2 and ended up trading down bc they were gone.

Has Paton ever heard of the concept of trading up? Holy hell. Arroyo went literally 1 pick before you and you couldn’t make a deal? Seemed like he was surprised? Yikes.

I’m just glad they didn’t get Egbuka but that guy would have changed shit for them. Apparently they were fine with the WR’s they had, which is great bc you know who is fine with last years WR’s and Pat Bryant? Literally everybody else.

They had big problems with their weapons. Adding RJ Harvey, Pat Bryant and Evan Engram as your shining new weapons for your young QB is a massive failure.

Their first rd pick felt like they were trying to copy the Eagles and get their own Cooper DeJean