Tag: draft grades

Apr 25, 2025; Henderson, NV, USA; Las Vegas Raiders first round draft pick in the 2025 NFL Draft Ashton Jeanty, speaks to the media at Intermountain Health Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Candice Ward-Imagn Images

Grading the Raiders’ Draft

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Grade: A+

Best Pick: RB Ashton Jeanty, No. 6 Overall

What We Liked: The Raiders got a blue-chip guy at six, hard to argue with that. Jeanty is a big-time impact player for a team that never really had an offense that chugged. However, one great pick does not make an A+ draft class. The Raiders knocked it out of the park with virtually every pick. Their new wide receiver room combines high-floor prospects like Jack Bech with big-upside swings like Dont’e Thornton Jr. Their two offensive linemen picks are both big-time athletes who could start early. Darien Porter may be old for a draft pick, but he’s the perfect Pete Carroll corner. Raiders fans, get excited.

Not Sure About: The two late defensive tackle picks don’t really have any special skills and have limited upside. I would expect them to be rotational players at best. If JJ Pegues starts getting reps at fullback, then get worried about these being wasted picks. I personally would have added a safety earlier, but that’s a nitpick on a top-tier draft class.

–Dean Bruce, special to Field Level Media

Miami Dolphins first-round pick Kenneth Grant on Friday, April 25, 2025, in Miami Gardens.

Grading the Dolphins’ Draft

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Grade: C

Best Pick: DT Kenneth Grant, No. 13 Overall

What We Liked: Effort was made to replace the big-time players who have left Miami for greener pastures. Kenneth Grant is clearly meant to be the next force up the middle similar to how Christian Wilkins operated for the Fins, and Dante Trader Jr. is kind of like if you got Jevon Holland from the 99-cent store: lots of strong play with a much lower paycheck attached. Jonah Savaiinaea feels like one more step in the right direction to fixing an offensive line that has led to Tua Tagovailoa concussions. The needs are being addressed.

Not Sure About: Jordan Phillips was a prospect that got first-round hype early in the cycle, but that tapered off when everyone realized that rumors of his athleticism were greatly exaggerated. Even the fifth round feels out of the range I would want someone of his production caliber. Jason Marshall is a similar former high-upside project player who just never did much of anything. Miami needs some players who can actually make an impact — outside of their offense, they lack star power.

–Dean Bruce, special to Field Level Media

Feb 28, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Mississippi wideout Tre Harris (WO17) answers questions at a press conference during the 2025 NFL Combine at Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephanie Amador Blondet-Imagn Images

Grading the Chargers’ Draft

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Grade: B

Best Pick: WR Tre Harris, No. 55 Overall

What We Liked: The Chargers picked up lots of talented players. The Omario Hampton pick should help the Chargers offense play more toward Harbaugh’s strengths as a coordinator who loves to pound the rock. Tre Harris helps build out a wide receiver room for Justin Herbert, who I’m sure has been worried about a lack of support. The defensive line adds bring a really high floor and good power profile to the defense that can hopefully help the Chargers force more teams to lose yards instead of giving them time to dink and dunk all over them.

Not Sure About: They have a lot of players I like, but no one in particular I love. It feels like the Chargers have collected a bunch of low-end starters here, but no stars that are going to truly elevate the team to the next level. Kyle Kennard, Jamaree Caldwell and Harris all don’t really have the athletic juice to be game-breakers, and Harris seems more and more injured every season. Can Hampton’s lack of creativity survive behind a line that still doesn’t have a very strong interior?

–Dean Bruce, special to Field Level Media

Mar 1, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Louisiana State University offensive lineman Miles Frazier (OL15) answers questions at a press conference during the 2025 NFL Combine at Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Jacob Musselman-Imagn Images

Grading the Lions’ Draft

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Grade: B-

Best Pick: OG Miles Frazier, No. 171 Overall

What We Liked: The Lions continue their emphasis on size after solid results. Tyleik Williams is a big hog molly who can handle double teams with ease and should help build out a line that is hopefully less ravaged by injuries this year. Tate Ratledge and Miles Frazier build out a set of interior offensive linemen that could push to start as soon as the beginning of the season if Christian Mahogany doesn’t pan out. It feels like the Lions found their needs early and stuck to their size requirements.

Not Sure About: Trading up with a future third-rounder to get Isaac TeSlaa feels like a classic Lions overthink. They love giving up lots of capital to get guys that weren’t even on my radar as potential possibilities, and TeSlaa is no exception. A raw overaged wideout is not worth multiple Day 2 picks, and I don’t think he’ll do much with the limited time he’ll have at his disposal in the Lions’ wide receiver room. Ahmed Hassanein is also not a great fix at edge rusher.

–Dean Bruce, special to Field Level Media

The Jacksonville Jaguars’ first-round pick, Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver and defensive back Travis Hunter, left, answers questions as General Manager James Gladstone, right, sits next to him during a press conference Friday, March 25, 2025 at Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]

Grading the Jaguars’ Draft

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Grade: B

Best Pick: CB/WR Travis Hunter, No. 2 Overall

What We Liked: That Travis Hunter trade was incredible. Getting two top-end weapons for the price of one is worth any amount of pick capital you have to pay to get up there. James Gladstone is making an incredible splash in his first year as a general manager with this trade and did lots of draft maneuvering that worked to his advantage. The Wyatt Milum pickup solidifies the offensive line well and Bhayshul Tuten should be a really strong dynamic duo with Tank Bigsby to take pressure off Trevor Lawrence.

Not Sure About: Hmm, lots of announcing guys who aren’t going to play the position they did in college, shifting over to somewhere else. Caleb Ransaw played all slot corner last year and is looking to be used at safety, Jalen McLeod got announced as a linebacker when his natural fit is as an edge rusher, Wyatt Milum is likely shifting from tackle to guard. If these guys don’t do well at their next position, the Jaguars’ depth class is pretty much toast.

–Dean Bruce, special to Field Level Media

A Comparison of 2018 NFL Draft Grades

Posted on | by Martin Chandler

Let’s imagine for a moment that you’re an Arizona Cardinals fan, and ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. is your go-to source for NFL information. You were probably a bit frustrated when he gave your team a C+ for their overall 2018 draft grade. You call your neighbor to tell him the bad news, but he tells you that Gennaro Filice of NFL.com gave the Cardinals an A. You hang up the phone, pondering the question: “How can two experts assign such different grades?”
This is just one example of how a reader’s perception of their team can be skewed by the sites they favor. The goal of this data visualization is to compare draft grades from five notable websites (ESPN, Yahoo, Sports Illustrated, CBS, and NFL.com) and see just how much their results can vary based on the same information.
Some teams, like the Chargers, stayed consistent across all the sites. Others, like the Saints, proved pretty divisive.
Use the dropdown lists to compare different media outlets. The darker the circle, the greater the grade difference. Play around with the data and see what interesting conclusions you can draw about your favorite team, or your favorite analyst.
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2017 NFL Draft Grade: NFC North

Posted on | by Dion Caputi | Leave a Comment on 2017 NFL Draft Grade: NFC North

The Bears hitch their wagon to Mitchell “Don’t call me Mitch” Trubisky, the Lions get some Gators, Ted Thompson and the Packers leverage the second round for secondary support, while Minnesota was fortuitous to land its “All Day” replacement on day two.
Chicago Bears
•Round 1 (No. 2): Mitchell Trubisky, QB. North Carolina
•Round 2 (No. 45): Adam Shaheen, TE. Ashland
•Round 4 (No. 112): Eddie Jackson, DB. Alabama
•Round 4 (No. 119): Tarik Cohen, RB. North Carolina A&T
•Round 5 (No. 147): Jordan Morgan, OG. Kutztown
Let me preface by saying that I actually like the collection of players the Bears added, but this evaluation hinges at least partially on Ryan Pace & Co.’s one-spot trade up into No. 2 overall. I’m a cautious believer in Trubisky and I think the biggest ‘win’ from this Chicago class is the fact that he is allowed to sit for a complete year behind Mike Glennon. Adam Shaheen is not “Gronk-lite”, but he’s a well-rounded player who can block/run/catch. Eddie Jackson is decent safety depth, but my two favorite picks were the last two: “Joystick” Tarik Cohen is an intriguing change of pace ‘back who offers electricity in space, while Jordan Morgan is a high-potential college left tackle who will transition to guard. Chicago gave up a boatload for one draft position and didn’t get much draft value elsewhere, but this is a long-term class for a rebuilding team so they won’t care what I think.
Grade: C+
Detroit Lions
•Round 1 (No. 21): Jarrad Davis, LB. Florida
•Round 2 (No. 53): Teez Tabor, CB. Florida
•Round 3 (No. 96): Kenny Golladay, WR. Northern Illinois
•Round 4 (No. 124): Jalen Reeves-Maybin, LB. Tennessee
•Round 4 (No. 127): Michael Roberts, TE. Toledo
•Round 5 (No. 165): Jamal Agnew, CB. San Diego
•Round 6 (No. 205): Jeremiah Ledbetter, DE. Arkansas
•Round 6 (No. 215): Brad Kaaya, QB. Miami (FL)
•Round 7 (No. 250): Pat O’Connor, DE. Eastern Michigan
I don’t see the ‘wow’ factor anywhere in this class past round one. I really like the Jarrad Davis pick: fills a major position of need and adds a very dynamic, twitchy interior linebacker with range and on-field leadership qualities. However, Teez Tabor and Kenny Golladay combine for maybe the most underwhelming day two haul of any draft class this year. Jalen Reeves-Maybin adds more athleticism in a big area of need, but was questionable value. Michael Roberts is a good blocker and a nice red zone option, while Brad Kaaya is the most exciting of the late round project passers, but that’s not enough to salvage a desired grade here.
Grade: C
Green Bay Packers
•Round 2 (No. 33): Kevin King, CB. Washington
•Round 2 (No. 61): Josh Jones, S. North Carolina State
•Round 3 (No. 93): Montravius Adams, DT. Auburn
•Round 4 (No. 108): Vince Biegel, LB. Wisconsin
•Round 4 (No. 134): Jamaal Williams, RB. Brigham-Young
•Round 5 (No. 175): DeAngelo Yancey, WR. Purdue
•Round 5 (No. 182): Aaron Jones, RB. Texas-El Paso
•Round 6 (No. 212): Kofi Amichia, OG/C. South Florida
•Round 7 (No. 238): Devante Mays, RB. Utah State
•Round 7 (No. 247): Malachi Dupre, WR. Louisiana State
Green Bay’s methodical and workman-like approach was evident yet again this year, valuing need over BPA. I was fired up about the team’s first three picks: King is your modern matchup boundary, while Josh Jones is a hit-stick safety with supreme athleticism – and in a post-Raji world, Montravius Adams’ blend of size/quickness/power fits right in. Mid-late rounds are hit or miss, but Jamaal Williams can do the dirty work Ty Montgomery can’t and Aaron Jones has intriguing long-speed. Malachi Dupre was a nice stamp: blue-chip high school recruit who suffered from poor quarterback-play at LSU – potential diamond. Par value, plenty of contributors.
Grade: B
Minnesota Vikings
•Round 2 (No. 41): Dalvin Cook, RB. Florida State
•Round 3 (No. 70): Pat Elflein, C. Ohio State
•Round 4 (No. 109): Jaleel Johnson, DT. Iowa
•Round 4 (No. 120): Ben Gedeon, LB. Michigan
•Round 5 (No. 170): Rodney Adams, WR. South Florida
•Round 5 (No. 180): Danny Isidora, OG. Miami (FL)
•Round 6 (No. 201): Bucky Hodges, TE. Virginia Tech
•Round 7 (No. 219): Stacy Coley, WR. Miami (FL)
•Round 7 (No. 220): Ifeadi Odenigbo, DE. Northwestern
•Round 7 (No. 232): Elijah Lee, LB. Kansas State
•Round 7 (No. 247): Jack Tocho, CB. North Carolina State
One of three teams (Seattle, Cincinnati) who made 11 selections – the most this year. Like Green Bay, the Vikings knocked off a lot of needs. Dalvin Cook was my top rated running back, so to get him at No. 41 might be my favorite pick from the 2017 draft overall. A new long-term center was sorely needed and Elflein addresses that, offering some guard versatility in the interim. Jaleel Johnson is a wide-bodied 3-tech in the profile of Sharrif Floyd (who may not play again). Rodney Adams takes Cordarrelle Patterson’s place as the WR/KR on roster, while the intriguing Bucky Hodges is a modern move-TE with long arms and movement skill. I don’t think Ben Gedeon is the long-term Chad Greenway replacement Spielman & Co. might, but time will tell.
Grade: B
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