“NFL Draft Report Card”

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A record-historical-wild weekend in the NFL Draft, after a furious first month of free agency, blockbuster trades and controversial trades.

Now the draft, dominated by pass rushers and pass blockers.

An interesting weekend and a report card grade for each team.
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ARIZONA..QB-Kyler Murray has his new contract and the Cardinals have a new WR-via trade in Hollywood Brown and a new tight end in Trey McBride, plus a young pass rusher in Cam Thomas.  Grade (A)

ATLANTA..The rebuild in the post Matt Ryan era has begun with Marcus Mariota at QB, his second year Kyle Pitts at tight end, and the drafting of USC’s Drake London.  Add in a possible future QB in Desmond Ridder.  Grade (B)

BALTIMORE..Trust John Harbaugh on draft day.  Ripped by injuries all last year, now they get Lamar Jackson back healthy, add S-Kyle Hamilton, a quality OC in Tyler Linderbaum and maybe the steal of the draft in DE-David Ojabo of Michigan coming off an Achilles injury.  Grade (A)

BUFFALO…Added defense and a running back-but did not get game changing players.  Jury is still out on this one.  Grade (C)

CAROLINA…They had QB questions before the draft and still no answers after the draft even with the late selection of Matt Corral.  But protecting whoever is the QB will be aided with LT-Ikem Ekonwu.  Grade (C)

CHICAGO…New leadership has torn the team apart, so no one knows how much better things will be for second year QB-Justin Fields..  Added to the defense-but not much on offense.  Grade (D)

CINCINNATI…They added to an ailing offensive line in free agency, and then added on in the secondary with young talent that will play in a watered down AFC-North.  They will learn on the job.  Grade (C)

CLEVELAND…Desean Watson will be what Baker Mayfield was not, a big play maker, unless the NFL suspends Watson.  Amari Cooper arrives from Dallas.  They did not draft till pick (68) so who knows what they will get done in the draft.  Grade (C)

DALLAS…They always draft well, whether you like or dislike Jerry Jones.  LT-Tyler Smith and DE-Sam Williams have big credentials.  Think it was a good weekend.  Grade (B)

DENVER…Russell Wilson changes everything for the Broncos, and then added TE-Greg Dulcich and a good LB-Nick Bonitto.  Grade (B)

DETROIT..They keep adding, soon they will end the losing.  Here comes DE-Aiden Hutchinson, DE-Josh Paschal and the waiting game begins for WR-Jameson Williams,coming off knee surgery.  Grade (A)

GREEN BAY..Could have traded up for WR help after the Davonte Adams trade and the free agent losses, but drafted some pretty good defensive players instead. They did add small college star WR-Christian Watson.  This was solid.  Grade (B)

HOUSTON..Lovie Smith loves defense, didn’t do much to help his offense but you have to start somewhere on square one.  Which type of player did they get with CB-Derek Stingley?  They think they got a stud OT in Ken Green.  Grade (B)

INDIANAPOLIS…WR-Alec Pierce had a great season at U-Cincinnati and TE-Jelani Woods played well at Virginia, so these add ons should help new QB-Matt Ryan.  Grade (B)

JACKSONVILLE..This time last year no one knew what Urban Meyer would do, and he got himself fired.  We know Doug Pederson’s track record as a creative coach, so things will be better.  Travon Walker and Devin Lloyd will play immediately and the new coach will have a huge impact on the young QB-Trevor Lawrence.  Grade (A)

KANSAS CITY…I may be in the minority, I just don’t think the Chiefs will be the same dangerous team with Tyreek Hill gone.  Big upgrades on defense and changes too on that side of the roster.  CB-Trent McDuffie and DE-George Karlaftis are big time skill guys, and they did go get a fleet receiver with Skyy Moore in the third round to replace Hill.  Grade (A)

LAS VEGAS..The Raiders are pretty much done with all the guys Jon Gruden dragged in.  Lots new faces, led by WR-Davante Adams but they didn’t have a pick till the 3rd round.  Keep an ye on RB-Zamir White of Georgia, a 4th round pick  Grade (C)

LA CHARGERS..Need a RT, but drafted a LG instead.  Zion Johnson is ready made for the NFL and they think he could be as solid as last year’s top selection LT-Rashawn Slater.  They won the off season with free agency and trades and have definitely changed the personality of that side of the ball.   RB-Ike Spiller could be a steal and a quality backup to Austin Ekeler.  Grade (B)

LA RAMS…Spent all their draft picks in trades, but got a reputable OG in Logan Bruss, but not much else  They won doing it their way.  Let’s see what else they do in free agency to add onto this team.  Grade (C)

MIAMI..Didn’t pay much attention to the draft, were instead watching film of newly acquired  Tyreek Hill and others in free agency.  Will Tua Tagovailoa be a more dangerous QB with Hill in his formations. Not much in the draft.  Grade (D)

MINNESOTA….New coach Kevin O’Connell still has his big money-big stat QB in Kirk Cousins and his top RB-Dalvin Cook, but he does not have much defense.  Five of their top 6-picks were on defense led by a couple of good cover CBs  in Lewis Cine and Andrew Booth.  Lots of young guys have to play early.  Grade (B)

NEW ENGLAND…Not much of a draft track record by Bill Belichick recently.  The six Tom Brady led Super Bowls are in the rear view mirror.  What’s up ahead looks like an off ramp to mediocrity.    OG-Cole Strange could be good, but who knows about the rest of those 10-draft picks the Hoodie stockpiled.  Grade (C)

NEW ORLEANS..Those two #1 picks look great on paper, WR-Chris Olave and OT-Trevor Penning.  Jameis Winston is back at QB, you have WR-Mike Thomas and RB-Alvin Kamara, so a lot of quality.  But you have Dennis Allen as head coach, and he was not good last time he had a head job.  Grade (A)

NEW YORK GIANTS…Maybe we wake up and they are healthy and they get good.  New leadership will make a difference, as will DE-Kayvon Thibodeaux and OT Evan Neal They had 11-picks in all, but they got difference makers at the top.  Grade (A)

NEW YORK JETS…Equalled what the Giants did, and had too, considering how poor that roster has become.  QB-Kyle Wilson had no help last year, but got  four quality college players at the top of the draft.  B-Sauce Gardner comes in for the defense.   WR-Garrett Wilson comes off a spectacular Ohio State season.  Add in  DEJermaine Johnson and RB-Breece Hall, that is quite a haul.  Grade (A)

PHILADELPHIA…Even Eagles fans will stop booing because the top four they brought in were dynamic, and I include the trade for WR-AJ Brown of the Titans
DT-Jordan Davis and LB-Nakobe Dean are disruptors and Cam Jergens is an under-rated center.  Grade (A)

PITTSBURGH..Who knows what Kenny Pickett will be like as a QB and how long before he plays.  Ditto for WR-George Pickens.  But the Steelers win with defense and a power run game.  Like I said, who knows.  Grade (C)

SAN FRANCISCO…They have yet to deal QB-Jim Garoppolo, maybe for a veteran player , but I liked what they did even without a first round pick.  I think LB-Drake Jackson of USC has so much upside.  So does young WR-Danny Gray.  Will see what becomes of the Teebo Samuel contract feud.  Grade (B)

SEATTLE…Let the rebuild begin, but a good start in this draft with OT-Charles Cross, RB-Kenneth Walker, LB-Boye Mafe and OT-Abraham Lucas.  Getting 3-starters in the Russell Wilson-Broncos trade has to be added into this mix.  Grade (A)

TAMPA BAY..Don’t think the roster today will be the roster opening day but DT-Logan Hall did great things at Houston, so he will be a good ad-on.  Grade (C)

TENNESSEE..You wonder if their best days are behind them, with the wear-tear factor on Derrick Henry-Taylor Lewan and others.  Who is the real Ryan Tannehill?  Is there a reason for the late decision to draft QB-Malik Willis?  Mike Vrabel is a great coach but maybe transition is about to happen in Nashville.  Grade (C)

WASHINGTON…They kept trading back when quality WRs were right infront of them, they then took WRs with later picks.  Jahan Dotson is not like Chris Olave or the other top guys they had a shot at.  Strange way of doing business.    Only time will tell if Coach Ron Rivera can fix this situation.  Grade (D)

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