NFL Draft: Sam’s Round 1 Grades
- Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB — Indiana
Grade: A+
Mendoza proved that he can learn and develop quickly after one year at Indiana that led to a National Championship. Kirk Cousins should be a solid teacher for Mendoza to learn behind.
- New York Jets: David Bailey, EDGE — Texas Tech
Grade: A
Bailey is a raw and athletic Edge rusher that will make an impact even on the New York Jets.
- Arizona Cardinals: Jeremiyah Love, RB — Notre Dame
Grade: A
Love was the best overall player in this draft. I can’t grade him below an A. He will pair well with James Conner.
- Tennessee Titans: Carnell Tate, WR — Ohio State
Grade: A+
While I may not have had Tate going to the Titans in this draft, Tate was the best WR available and Borgnozi jumped at the opportunity.
- New York Giants: Arvell Reese, LB — Ohio State
Grade: A
Reese and Styles were the best LB’s in this draft. New York saw a a need and filled it.
- Kansas City Chiefs [traded with the Cleveland Browns]: Mansoor Delane, CB — LSU
Grade: C
While Delane is a solid grab at CB, I felt that the Chiefs would have been better suited to grab a lineman. Not a bad grab, but protecting Mahomes should be priority #1.
- Washington Commanders: Sonny Styles, LB — Ohio State
Grade: A+
Styles is a 6'5 unit of a defensive player and will step into Bobby Wagner’s place perfectly. He has equal parts run and pass protection and was a great pickup in Round 1.
- New Orleans: Jordan Tyson, WR — Arizona State
Grade: A
While Tyson injury history may be a deterrent to some, his pre-draft meetings and training helped him get picked inside the Top 10.
- Cleveland Browns: Spencer Fano, OT — Utah
Grade: A+
Fano is an absolute unit. While we may not know what QB he will be protecting, expect Fano to be a staple of the Cleveland offense for years to come.
- New York Giants: Francis Mauigoa, OT — Miami
Grade: A+
Protecting your 2nd Year QB is vital. The Giants got a solid OFF/DEF combo in Round 1 this year.
- Dallas Cowboys: Caleb Downs, S — Ohio State
Grade: A+
It’s amazing that Downs stayed on the board as long as he did. He is the best Safety in this draft and instantly improves that Dallas defense.
- Miami Dolphins: Kadyn Proctor, OT — Alabama
Grade:B
Proctor was an interesting choice with all of the other talent left on the board. While i think he improves the Dolphins, I wouldn’t have been surprised if he dropped outside the Top 20.
- Los Angeles Rams: Ty Simpson, QB — Alabama
Grade: C
Simpson is not a C Level player, but the Rams shouldn’t have picked him so early on in the draft. The Ram’s coach clearly wasn’t happy with the pick in the presser later last night. He kept stating that Simpson would compete with Stetson Bennett. I respect the loyalty to Bennett 100%.
- Baltimore Ravens: Olaivavega Ioane, OG — Penn State
Grade: A+
Ioane is a beast at the Guard position. Great grab by Baltimore. If the Ravens keep this up, maybe Lamar will stay in the pocket.
- Tamp Bay Buccaneers: Reuben Bain Jr., EDGE — Miami
Grade: A
Bain will make an impact instantly on the NFL stage. He even made sure to tell everyone that he was “the best in the world” when interviewed shortly after being picked.
- New York Jets: Kenyon Sadiq, TE — Oregon
Grade: C
Sadiq is an A, but the Jets are a dumpster fire with gas being poured on it by Geno Smith. I hate that such a good TE is going to get beat up and lose so many games to start his career. Nobody deserves that, but somebody’s gotta do it.
- Detroit Lions: Blake Miller, OT — Clemson
Grade: A
Miller’s a DAWG. This was a great piece for the line to get stronger in Detroit.
- Minnesota Vikings: Caleb Banks, DT — Florida
Grade: C
The amount of talent on this board at DL and OL is so obvious. Banks USA solid player, but this is such a random pick. You have a carousel of QBs in Minnesota and you don’t reinforce your line?
- Carolina Panthers: Monroe Freeling, OT — Georgia
Grade: A
Monster pick. Go Dawgs.
- Philadelphia Eagles: Makai Lemon, WR — USC
Grade: B
Lemon is a boom/bust (I guess all of these guys are). He struggled to listen to instructions during the Combine and has had some interesting pressers. We’ll see how it shakes out.
- Pittsburgh Steelers: Max Iheanachor, OT — Arizona State
Grade: A++
Iheanachor didn’t play football until Junior College. He is a violent, physical tackle with a huge development upside. Great grab for Pittsburgh.
- Los Angeles Chargers: Akheem Mesidor, EDGE — Miami
Grade: A
Mesidor help set the defensive front alongside Rueben Bain Jr. in Miami. Great grab.
- Dallas Cowboys: Malachi Lawrence, EDGE — UCF
Grade: B
Lawrence was a solid option at EDGE, but I can’t believe he got picked before Dani Dennis-Sutton from Penn State. Interesting pick.
- Cleveland Browns: KC Concepcion, WR — Texas A&M
Grade: B
The Browns have 70 Quarterbacks and one receiver that led the league in drops last year. This was a much needed refresh to their Slot position. Solid grab by Cleveland. Denzel Boston was still on the board, but Concepcion may fit their play style better.
- Chicago Bears: Dillon Thieneman, S — Oregon
Grade: B
Thieneman put all of his skills on tape. Solid Safety with a developmental upside. I have faith in Ben Johnson to get every ounce of talent out of his picks. Curious why Emmanuel McNeil-Warren wasn’t the move.
- Houston Texans: Keylan Rutledge, OG–Georgia Tech
Grade: A+
Rutledge has been at the top of my list for Guards for weeks now. He’s aggressive and can play agile enough to help with the run or pass block. Great protection pick for CJ Stroud.
- Miami Dolphins: Chris Johnson, CB — San Diego St
Grade: B
Not a bad pick at all. Johnson is an athlete. This wasn’t a loaded CB draft, so the Dolphins will be thankful they grabbed a great player early on the draft.
- NE Patriots: Caleb Lomu, OT — Utah
Grade: B
Lomu will be a great addition to the young Offensive Line in New England.
- Kansas City Chiefs: Peter Woods, DT — Clemson
Grade: B
Solid grab. The Chiefs decided once again to not choose an Offensive lineman. Make it make sense.
- New York Jets: Omar Cooper Jr, WR — Indiana
Grade: A
Omar Cooper Jr. is a very solid Wide Receiver. I just hate that all his passes will be sailed over his head or thrown short for interceptions.
- Tennessee Titans: Keldric Faulk, Edge — Auburn
Grade: B
The Titans traded up from 35 to 31 to grab Keldric Faulk. In my Draft Preview showing all of my top players by position, Faulk was high on my list just under Bailey. Great pick and worth trading up to grab him.
- Seattle Seahawks: Jadarian Price, RB — Notre Dame
Grade: C
Interesting. I have Price and Mike Washington Jr. as the two other Running Backs I liked in this draft. I am suprised the Seahawks traded away their Super Bowl MVP and went RB immediatley in Round 1.
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