2018 NFL Draft Grades
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2018 NFL Draft Grades

After taking some time to reflect on the draft, here are my grades for all 32 teams

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2018 NFL Draft Grades
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With another draft in the books, and a lot of scouting and mock drafting is done, it's time to look at just how well every team in the NFL did during the draft.

With draft grades, teams are graded based on filling needs and quality of players as of draft day. Some players can turn out better, and some can turn out worse, depending on what the coaches of their respective teams do with them.

Regardless, these teams have made their picks, so let's grade them.

I'll also mention who I think their best pick, worst pick, and biggest question pick.

We'll be going in alphabetical order, so first up:

Arizona Cardinals: B

Best Pick: Christian Kirk

Worst Pick: Mason Cole

? Pick: Josh Rosen

Arizona had a really good draft, and they got one of the best slot receivers in the draft in Christian Kirk. Even Mason Cole was a decent pick, but center wasn't a huge need, whereas the Cardinals need a number two corner to help Patrick Peterson. Rosen draws the biggest ? pick because he joins a quarterback room with injury concerns, and he has some concerns himself, which could lead to early struggles.

Atlanta Falcons: B

Best Pick: Isaiah Oliver

Worst Pick: Ito Smith

? Pick: Calvin Ridley

Atlanta didn't really address their biggest areas of need during the draft. They got a defensive tackle in Deadrin Senat out of USF and a receiver in Calvin Ridley, but they needed some O-Line depth, a tight end, and maybe a fullback, which Ito Smith is not. Smith is a speed back who joins a crowded backfield in Atlanta with Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman.

Baltimore Ravens: A-

Best Pick: Lamar Jackson

Worst Pick: Jordan Lasley/Jaleel Scott

? Pick: Orlando Brown

The Ravens made one of the biggest splashes in the draft when they traded up to get Lamar Jackson to be the future quarterback of their franchise after Flacco's time is up. Baltimore has completely rebuilt their wide receiver core this off-season, but Lasley has a lot of issues and Scott is a project player who is similar to Auden Tate, a seventh-round pick. While I could argue that Jackson is also the biggest question mark, Brown, the son of former Ravens offensive tackle Orlando Brown Sr., had one of the worst combines ever, and who knows if he will perform at NFL level because of his measurables, and they needed a guard more than a tackle.

Buffalo Bills: A-

Best Pick: Tremaine Edmunds

Worst Pick: Taron Johnson

? Pick: Josh Allen

Buffalo went swinging for the fence this year and came away with a pretty good draft, including a super athletic linebacker in Tremaine Edmunds, who could be a top ten player in this draft. Taron Johnson is a slot corner, but he lacks the athleticism to cover some of the slot receivers in the NFL, and in the fourth-round, there were much better corners that the Bills could have drafted to develop alongside there are elite corners. Josh Allen has the potential to be the best QB in this class, but he could also be the worst of the drafted quarterbacks.

Carolina Panthers: B+

Best Pick: D.J. Moore

Worst Pick: Marquis Haynes

? Pick: Rashaan Gaulden

The Panthers tried to rebuild their entire secondary in one draft, but the best pick still has to be D.J. Moore, a true play-making receiver for Cam Newton to throw to. Marquis Haynes is a solid pass-rusher, but so undersized that he might be a non-factor for the Panthers. Gaulden has the potential to be the top safety in this draft, but he lacks in the strength department to force drops.

Chicago Bears: B

Best Pick: James Daniels

Worst Pick: Joel Iyiegbuniwe

? Pick: Bilal Nichols

While not inherently surprising, the Bears draft was very top heavy. They drafted the best pure linebacker with first-round pick Roquan Smith, they got the best pure center in second-round pick James Daniels, and one of the best receivers in Anthony Miller. They followed three amazing picks by drafting Iyiegbuniwe, a complete project player for a defense that needs more pass-rushers. That is part of the reason why Nichols is so questionable, he might be a good pass-rusher, but he currently is just a good run-stopper.

Cincinnati Bengals: B-

Best Pick: Sam Hubbard

Worst Pick: Mark Walton

? Pick: Billy Price

Sam Hubbard is one of the best pass-rushers in this draft class, and by getting him in the third-round, they got a huge value pick. Walton is a good running back, but he is very similar to Giovanni Bernard, another member of the Bengals' running back committee. What makes the Walton pick even worse is the same reason why the pick of center Billy Price a questionable pick, was it the best move to fix the Bengals' abysmal o-line.

Cleveland Browns: B

Best Pick: Nick Chubb

Worst Pick: Antonio Callaway

? Pick: Baker Mayfield

The Cleveland Browns had a much riskier draft than they probably should have gone with given their history of bad luck, but they have a ton of potential. Nick Chubb could be the second-best running back in this class, but he has an injury history. Antonio Callaway and Baker Mayfield have had some issues of the field, but Baker has had enough success on the field to have some faith, while Callaway seems like a hybrid between Josh Gordan and Justin Blackmon, which could be great but could be an absolute disaster.

Dallas Cowboys: B-

Best Pick: Cedrick Wilson

Worst Pick: Mike White

? Pick: Leighton Vander Esch

Cedrick Wilson has the potential to be a great receiver, especially for a big, slot type, and is a great value for a late sixth-round. Mike White has the potential to be a good quarterback, but he can't play in the same style as Dak Prescott, which can be an issue should he need to play. Vander Esch has the potential to be the next Brian Urlacher, but he has to develop to get there, and with Dallas going into the draft needing a new number one receiver and a true free safety, the Vander Esch pick is questionable, and the Mike White pick is bad.

*The Ryan Switzer-Jihad Ward trade is not included as part of the draft, but that trade deserves an F for sheer stupidity.

Denver Broncos: A

Best Pick: Bradley Chubb

Worst Pick: Isaac Yiadom

? Pick: Daesean Hamilton

Denver took the best player available, and arguably the best defensive player in the draft, in Bradley Chubb. Yiadom is the worst pick, but he's not a bad player, Denver reached in order to get a better scheme fit, which is reasonable yet avoidable. Hamilton was the second receiver taken by the Broncos, and his potential is high, but perhaps a quarterback or an offensive lineman with this pick.

Detroit Lions: B

Best Pick: Frank Ragnow

Worst Pick: Tracy Walker

? Pick: Da'Shawn Hand

Detroit did a ton to try and help Matthew Stafford on offense by drafting two offensive linemen (Ragnow and Tyrell Crosby), and two running backs (halfback Kerryon Johnson and fullback Nick Bawden). The defense, however, has some big questions. Walker and Hand are projects that were both reaches, Walker a huge one and Hand a small one, who are the only drafted pieces in a defense that struggled at times last year.

Green Bay Packers: A

Best Pick: Jaire Alexander

Worst Pick: Kendall Donnerson

? Pick: Oren Burks

The Packers had one of the best drafts of the weekend, but just miss an A+ because of one issue, how are they going to rush the passer? Jaire Alexander and Josh Jackson are two of the best corners in this class, and they both join a Packers' secondary that needs help, especially since the Packers didn't really add anyone to get to the quarterback. Burks is more of an inside linebacker in Green Bay, given his lack of size for a true pass rusher, and Donnerson was picked over almost a dozen better pass rushers.

Houston Texans: B+

Best Pick: Justin Reid

Worst Pick: Jordan Akins

? Pick: Martinas Rankin

Houston gets a bit of a grade bump here because of the Deshaun Watson and Brock Osweiler trades because Watson looked great last year and Brock wasn't worth $22 million, or $22 for that matter, so they did with their first two "picks". Reid might be the biggest steal of the third-round, but Akins might be the biggest reach of the third. Rankins is the biggest question because we simply don't know where he will play on the O-line.

Indianapolis Colts: A-

Best Pick: Quentin Nelson/Braden Smith

Worst Pick: Jordan Wilkins

? Pick: Tyquan Lewis

The Colts are finally trying to protect Andrew Luck, so I almost gave them an A+ for that alone, but they still need a right tackle to even have a complete o-line. Combine that with drafting Jordan Wilkins, a poor man's Aaron Jones, with some power backs on the board that could help balance out Nyheim Hines raw speed. Lewis has the potential to be an incredibly versatile pick, but if he doesn't develop, then the Colts end up with a "Jack of all Trades, Master of none" situation.

Jacksonville Jaguars: A-

Best Pick: D.J. Chark

Worst Pick: Tanner Lee

? Pick: Taven Bryan

Jacksonville spent the first four rounds taking, arguably, the best available players on the board. Then they took Tanner Lee and showed that they can't get every pick right. Chark will help the defense by stretching the field with his spend, and Taven Bryan can take that d-line into a steel curtain-esque line, but Bortles could use another big tight end to throw to because he loves to throw to tight ends.

Kansas City Chiefs: B+

Best Pick: Tremon Smith

Worst Pick: Breeland Speaks

? Pick: Derrick Nnadi

Kansas City gets the same bump that Houston gets because of their first-round picks being used last year to get their quarterback of the future in Patrick Mahomes II. If Tremon Smith can do the things he did in college at the pro level, then he is the replacement for Marcus Peters that the Chiefs need. Speaks is viewed by many as one of the biggest reaches in the draft, and Nnadi is an undersized DT who could become a star, but the Chiefs needed a pass-rusher, and it doesn't feel like they added one.

Los Angeles Chargers: B+

Best Pick: Derwin James

Worst Pick: Justin Jones

? Pick: Dylan Cantrell

The Chargers draft could be the best in the class if all seven picks develop into the top of their potential, but that's a big if. James could be the next Kam Chancellor, Justin Jones could be the next Brandon Mebane, and Dylan Cantrell could be the next Eric Decker. I feel like that last sentence does a better job of explaining why each of those three has their pick labeled.

Los Angeles Rams: B

Best Pick: Obo Okoronkwo

Worst Pick: John Franklin-Myers

? Pick: Brian Allen

The Chiefs and Texans got bonus points for how they used their draft picks, but the Rams lose points for the use of their picks because Sammy Watkins is gone and Brandin Cooks wasn't worth a first-round pick when New England traded for him and definitely isn't worth it now. Okoronkwo was a nice steal, but Franklin-Myers was an equally bad reach. Brian Allen is only questionable because they picked Joseph Noteboom the round before, and neither of them is true guards, which the offense really needs.

Miami Dolphins: C+

Best Pick: Jerome Baker

Worst Pick: Jason Sanders

? Pick: Minkah Fitzpatrick

Miami got a linebacker in Baker who should be able to cover tight ends with his speed, and playing next to his former teammate Raekwon McMillan. There were five kickers in this draft that even remotely deserved to be drafted, Sanders what not one of them, especially when they could have drafted a quarterback, just in case Tannehill can't go. Minkah is the biggest question for two reasons: is he a better scheme fit than Derwin James and can his presence help the fact that Suh is gone?

Minnesota Vikings: B+

Best Pick: Mike Hughes

Worst Pick: Davonte Downs

? Pick: Mike Hughes

I think Mike Hughes has the potential to be the top corner in this class due to being a part of the Vikings' defense that was one of the best in the league last year. The reason he is a questionable pick, however, is because the Vikings just gave Kirk Cousins a fully-guaranteed contract, so the Vikings need to maximize his protection, and only time will tell if taking Hughes over an O-lineman was a good call. Downs was taken over about ten linebackers who could do his job better.

New England Patriots: B+

Best Pick: Sony Michel

Worst Pick: Danny Etling

? Pick: Ja'Whaun Bentley

New England had an... interesting draft, which seems weird for the team who lost the Super Bowl. Outside of Sony Michel, everyone feels like project players, which would normally be an even lower grade, but I've learned to have more faith in New England then that. Still, Ja'Whaun Bentley looks like a raw prospect who could be a beast or a bust, and Etling is part of a long line of LSU quarterbacks who don't look capable of pro successful.

New Orleans Saints: C-

Best Pick: Marcus Davenport

Worst Pick: Rick Leonard

? Pick: Marcus Davenport

After one of the best draft for the franchise in years, this Saints draft feels like a big miss. Rick Leonard was a defensive end that converted to right tackle, and has a lot of work to become a finished project. Speaking of projects, Marcus Davenport has tremendous upside, but the Saints gave up next year's first round pick for a project that, while I highly doubt he will, could be a bust.

New York Giants: A-

Best Pick: Will Hernandez

Worst Pick: R.J. McIntosh

? Pick: Saquan Barkely

The Giants added Will Hernandez, a beast of an offensive guard, who will clear the way for Saquan Barkely for years to come, and they got him in the second instead of needing to trade up. McIntosh was the Giants second drafted defensive tackle, which is even more of a problem when you consider that they only made six picks and two were DTs, while they had more holes to fill. Barkely is the best player in this draft, but the Giants already had a good offense with a bad o-line and problems all over the defense, which means Chubb and Nelson MIGHT be more useful in the long-term.

New York Jets: A-

Best Pick: Nathan Shepherd

Worst Pick: Trenton Cannon

? Pick: Sam Darnold

The other team in New York had a very similar draft to their roommates, including drafting two defensive tackles out of their six draft picks, when they need offensive tackles. Still, Nathan Shepherd was a pick worth making in the third-round given that this big 'ol Canadian could be the Jets version of the Giants' Damon "Snacks" Harrison. Sam Darnold might wish the Jets got extra protection rather than getting Trenton Cannon, but maybe Darnold and Cannon will become friends in the weight room because Cannon needs the muscle and Darnold needs to work on his hand strength.

Oakland Raiders: B-

Best Pick: Marcell Ateman

Worst Pick: P.J. Hall

? Pick: Everyone not named Marcell Ateman

I could have in good conscience gave Oakland any grade from an A+ to a D+ and felt completely justified in doing so, but I just went for something in the middle. There is a question mark or red flag for just about every player the Raiders took, whether it is the health of a guy like Maurice Hurst, the character concerns of guys like Arden Key and Azeem Victor, or if guys like Kolton Miller and Brandon Parker can translate their athletic ability into results at the professional level. Hall is the worst pick, however, because they could have gotten a better run-stopper later in the draft, and they potential did that with Maurice Hurst, 3 ROUNDS LATER.

Philadelphia Eagles: A-

Best Pick: Josh Sweat

Worst Pick: Jordan Mailata

? Pick: Avonte Maddox

The Eagles got an amazing pass-rusher in Josh Sweat, who has enough raw talent to play this year, despite being a fourth-round pick. Jordan Mailata is another rugby player trying to make the NFL, and while he has as good a chance as the previous ones, but Rugby players have historically been special team players at best. The Eagles could have attempted to fill a need at linebacker or receiver instead of drafting Maddox, a 5'9'' corner, who looks to peak as a good nickle corner to cover Cole Beasely or Sterling Shepherd, but most tight ends are goliaths next to him, but maybe practicing against a guy like Dallas Goedert from the second-round will help with that.

Pittsburgh Steelers: B-

Best Pick: James Washington

Worst Pick: Terrell Edmunds

? Pick: Mason Rudolph

Pittsburgh had the ultimate feel good moment in the first-round of the draft after the Ryan Shazier walked to the podium to announce their pick, but what's lost in that moment is how bad of reach that pick was, as most people expected him to be in the third-round, not the first. Then the Steelers did that made me think that they actually know what they are doing because they took James Washington, a great replacement for Martavius Bryant, and drafted Washington's college quarterback Mason Rudolph. If you haven't seen what these two can do together, watch this, but this assumes that Rudolph will take Big Ben's job eventually, and not Josh Dobbs from last years draft, so Rudolph is a question because he has competition.

San Francisco 49ers C+

Best Pick: Mike McGlinchey

Worst Pick: Kentavius Street

? Pick: Tarvarius Moore

The 49ers, arguably, reached with over pick they made in the draft, but it's not like they took nothing but scrubs, since McGlinchey is the best offensive tackle in the draft, so they took him to protect Jimmy Garoppolo. Street is a good pass-rusher, but was probably the biggest of the reaches given that he doesn't fill a big need. If Moore can develop the coverage skills, which is a big if, he has the athletic ability to be one of the best safeties in the NFL with his 4.32 forty-yard dash and his 6'1'' height.

Seattle Seahawks: C+

Best Pick: Jamarco Jones

Worst Pick: Tre Flowers

? Pick: Rashaad Penny

Seattle went into this draft in a rough position, and they came out of the draft slightly better than they went into it. Jones is a good right tackle who can help that o-line immediately because Russell Wilson needs some protection. Penny was a small reach since there were some better running backs on the board, and Flowers was a huge reach, especially since they didn't trade Earl Thomas.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: A-

Best Pick: Carlton Davis

Worst Pick: Justin Watson

? Pick: Vita Vea

Tampa needed to rebuild their entire secondary after being the worst in the league against the pass last year, and Carlton Davis is a legit heir-apparent to Brent Grimes. Justin Watson was the worst pick, as this receiver class is deep, and they had plenty of better options available to help Jameis Winston and Mike Evans. Vita Vea is a good compliment to Gerald McCoy, but they needed secondary help more than d-line help, so we'll see who is the better rookie between him and Derwin James.

Tennessee Titans: A-

Best Pick: Harold Landry

Worst Pick: Dane Cruikshank

? Pick: Luke Falk

Sometimes less is more, and the Titans showed that in this draft with their four picks. Landry and Rashaan Evans will both be competing for AFC defensive rookie of the year this season because of that they bring to the table and how this defense will use them. Cruikshank is very inconsistent, but could be a good pick with the proper coaching and time to develop, and Falk is in the same boat, but as a much better value and with time behind Marcus Mariota to develop.

Washington Redskins: A

Best Pick: Tim Settle

Worst Pick: Greg Stroman

? Pick: Derrius Guice

Washington went into this draft wanting to get two things, a running back to compete against the other running backs in the NFC East, and run-stoppers to stop those running backs. Settle and Da'Ron Payne in the first-round can help Jonathan Allen, if healthy, slowdown or shutdown the backs of the NFC East, while Guice can compete with those backs, but there are questions about his behavior during the draft process. Stroman needs to develop a lot as a defender, but he can return punts, so he should have a roster spot long enough to learn.

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