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“NFL Draft Report Card”

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CHARGERS…They got a QB for the future…an inside LB who can run and 2-skilled young WRs.  A superb haul, coupled with the five veteran free agents they signed in the off season.  Justin Herbert has so many ingredients that add up to the ‘it factor’.  Is he more complete now than Philip Rivers was his rookie season, and is there still lots of potential to grow into.  LB-Kenneth Murray can play sideline to sideline and gives the team an explosive speed guy in the middle..and the kid WRs-KJ Hill and Joe Reed will be given a chance to jump into the rotation….Grade (A)

CAROLINA…New broom sweeps clean and that is what incoming coach Matt Rhule has done.  He has his QB, his RB, young WRs, and spent his entire draft currency on 7-defensive players.  The top 3-picks all play opening day, DT-Derrick Brown..De-Yetur Matos and S-Jimmy Chenn…We see how quickly Teddy Bridgewater becomes a star again…Grade (A)

DALLAS…Added more firepower to a great offense in WR-Cee Dee Lamb, and then got secondary help in CB-Travon Diggs and DT-Neville Gallimore…Grade (A)

DENVER..Quite an offseason with the wolves barking at the door of John Elway.  WRs-Jerry Jeudy and KJ Hamler will add a lot opposite Cortland Sutton and TE-Noah Fanta.  Add to that Melvin Gordon with Philip Lindsey, lots of bullets in the gun…Grade (A)

INDIANAPOLIS…Two very accomplished pass catchers in Michael Pittman and Dez Patmon, plus heavy duty RB-Jonathon Taylor mean there is lots more firepower around new QB-Philip Rivers.  And we see if QB-Jacob Eason becomes the heir apparent to Rivers in a couple of years….Grade (A)

NY GIANTS….They keep adding key pieces at the top of the board each year. so this years haul of OT-Andrew Thomas, S-Xavier McKinney CB-Darnay Holmes add alot.  Making progress and now a new coach in Joe Judge….Grade (A)

TAMPA BAY…Unique chemistry experiment upcoming with Tom Brady-Rob Gronkowski linking with madman coach Bruce Arians…Instant starters in OT-Tristan Wirfs…S-Antoine Winfield….Grade (A)

ARIZONA…3-studs early in the draft and a special package player later in the draft-good day…LB-Isaiah Simmons..OT-Josh Jones..DT-Leki Fotu  are all warriors…Interested in how they get ball in hands  of RB-Eno Benjamin….All this on top of the DeAndre Hopkins off season trade…Kyler Murray is smiling…Grade (B)

BALTIMORE…In John Harbaugh we trust…Don’t question his history for his drafts have been good…This one too…Warrior LB in Patrick Queen…versatile RB-JK Dobbins plus assortment other picks…Grade (B)

SEATTLE…Trust Pete Carroll too…seems as if he is reloading with his kind of players-speed-speed-more speed…LB-Jordyn Brooks is the next coming of Bobby Wagner…DE-Darrell Taylor can play and more OL help…Grade (B)

BUFFALO…Didn’t have a first, actually it’s Stefon Diggs, but they get a high motor pass rush guy in AJ Epensea…and a run-catch RB-in Zach Moss…to go with QB-Josh Allen and a very good Bills defense from a year ago…Grade (B)

CINCINNATI…Joe Burrow-welcome-fix this thing…adding WR-Tee Higgins and hoping all their injured WRs from a year ago, AJ Green and John Ross stay healthy, with RB-Joe Mixon..means they will be more competitive…Do they have enough defense?..Grade (B)

CLEVELAND…Last couple of years we kept saying Browns are getting there…..now they add 3-more quality young players…OT-Jed Wills..S-Grant Delpit…DT-Jordan Elliott…Pretty good talent base on roster now…Waiting for it to come together…Grade (B)

DETROIT….Have to win this year..and CB-Jeff Okudah…RB-DeAndre Swift..De-Julian Okawar will help them…Have to keep QB-Matt Stafford standing upright on field….Grade (B)

KANSAS CITY….Coach Andy Reid did not have a lot of picks, but he got great fit with top pick RB-Clyde Edwards-Hellair plus three more defensive players…All that to a team that returns 20-of-22 starters…Grade (B )

RAIDERS…Trust Mike Mayock…A year ago today we were questioning reaches they made in a top heavy defensive draft, and the Cle Ferrell and Maxx Crosby picks were exceptional…This time speed and more speed with WR-Henry Rugg…WR-Lynn Bowden..WR-Bryan Edwards..plus a reach for CB-Damon Arnette…Grade (B)

LA RAMS…They had 9-picks and went to fill open spots on the roster….RB-Cam Akers is productive…WR-Van Jefferson runs great routes…DE-Terrell Lewis is rugged…Maybe find a gem or two late in draft also…Grade (B)

MIAMI…When they were finished dealing, they had 10-picks, added a RB thru a trade and believe all the big names in the draft will pan out….A bunch of proven players in QB-Tua Tagovailoa..OT-Austin Jackson..OT-Robert Hunt..DT-Raekwon Davis….Lots of quality kids…Couple that with free agents they landed-it’s like a whole new team..Grade (B)

MINNESOTA…It’s been an off season of change especially with defense but the new pieces should fit in well…WR-Justin Jefferson replaces Stefon Diggs…CB-Jeff Gladney beefs up a thinner secondary..huge OT-Ezra Cleveland plays early….they finished up the weekend with 15-picks-so this has too be an eventful draft…Grade (B)

NY JETS…Helping QB-Sam Darnold was the protocol…thus OT-Mechi Becton..WR-Denzel Mims plus S-Ashtyn Davis….A project QB to develop also in James Morgan…Grade (B)

SAN FRANCISCO….GM-John Lynch likes to deal..so trading for OT-Trent Williams is huge…so is DT-Javon Kinlaw and potential breakout WR-Brandon Aiyuk….Grade (B)

WASHINGTON…It’s convenient to bash all-things Daniel Snyder..but adding Chase Young-DE to an already fierce defense is a positive….WR-Antonio Gibson get a chance to play early..and the intangible of Ron Rivera leadership….Grade (B)

GREEN BAY….The media going crazy of the selection of QB-Jordan Love as if Aaron Rodgers is leaving tomorrow…crazy talk….Over-reaction Monday….But as Rodgers developed under Brett Favre…Love does the same for the day Rodgers steps aside…Was surprised though they went RB with second pick….Did not do much to help in WR-group or secondary…Thought priorities were strange…Grade (C)

JACKSONVILLE…Wound up with 12-picks…Thought they might deal their two unhappy players (Fournette-Ngakoue) but didn’t.  ..CB-CJ Henderson..LB-K’Lavon Chaisson..DT-DaVon Hamilton..WR-Lavisk Shenault all play a lot early…They still have QB-uncertainty…Grade (C)

NEW ENGLAND….His team, his way, the Patriots (Belicheck) way…Didn’t draft a QB…Didn’t draft a WR…but did draft guys from Division II…1-AA…Marshall…Wyoming…Wake Forest…and a kicker…Strange mix…Do like S-Kyle Dugger (everybody comes form somewhere)…and the two LBs…Will be interesting to see what life after Tom Brady will be like…..Grade (C)

NEW ORLEANS…Not many picks (4)…and Sean Payton dealt 4-picks in one round for another pick in a different one…then drafted for need…getting a center and a linebacker….Grade (C)

PHILADELPHIA..Needed wideout help…got it in WR-Jake Reager…and then acquired pick for Jalen Hurts-who might be a very good insurance policy QB…they drafted defense…Wonder if they re-sign FA-LT-Jason Peters…Believe in Doug Pederson, the offensive mind, just wonder about Pederson drafting ability…Grade (C)

ATLANTA…Bad seasons, lots of assistant coaching changes..tons of injuries…..but they went heavy to fix a battered defense by getting CB-AJ Terrell and DT-Marlon Davidson,,,Coach Dan Quinn is in trouble…Grade (C)…

PITTSBURGH…Did not have a first round pick..but they have S-Minkah Fitzpatrick-so that is better……Diamond in the rough WR-Chase Claypoole and RB-Anthony McFarland are not household names were did produce in college….Should there have been a prospect QB on this draft list?….Grade (C)

TENNESSEE…Real mishmash of picks, a second tier OT…a DB dropping down the board…a small college RB….Intrigued by change of pace RB-Darrynton Evans…Grade (C)

CHICAGO…So the Bears paid a chunk of money for TE-Jimmy Graham and then used the first pick on another TE-Cole Kmet-strange priorities…do like CB-Jaylon Johnson..but thought other players would have been better choices….Grade (D)

HOUSTON..This has not been a good off season for Bill O’Brien and you wonder if he has made so many deals he has dealt himself out of a playoff spot…DT-Ross Blacklock is pretty good player…Always seems to be turmoil about how this Coach-GM does his business…Grade (D)

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