2024 NFL Draft Grades: Overall Team Results
Now is a good time to take a step back, look at what happened over the weekend, and evaluate how we think each team did in the 2024 NFL Draft. Such analyses may prove silly within months; players drafted highly might struggle, and “project” players who were selected late could prove to be hidden gems. The teams are listed in reverse order of their records (i.e., what the order would have looked like if no picks were ever traded). If you’d like to see the specific players each team chose, feel free to check out my grades for day 1, day 2, and day 3 by clicking these links.
1. Carolina Panthers: B
What went well: The Panthers grabbed a real #1 WR for QB Bryce Young in South Carolina’s Xavier Legette. They obtained several possibly starters on day 3, including TE Ja’Tavion Sanders and CB Chau Smith-Wade.
What didn’t go well: The Bryce Young trade continues to haunt Carolina, and they missed out on the #1 overall selection this year because of it. Trading up for RB Jonathon Brooks seemed unnecessary.
Final thoughts: Carolina didn’t have a top-heavy draft, but that’s their own fault because of last year’s disastrous trade. Grading just what we do have for the 2024 draft, the Panthers did a really solid job. They had to improve their entire talent-poor offense, which was never going to happen in one season. Not trying to do too much and just acquiring talent was the right approach.
2. Washington Commanders: C+
What went well: Washington found who it thinks is the QB of the future in Jayden Daniels. They acquired Jer’Zhan Newton, my favorite DT prospect, in round 2.
What didn’t go well: Daniels is an incredibly risky prospect, and I would’ve traded the #2 pick for a king’s ransom. Newton doesn’t fill a need whatsoever, as Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen already reside in Washington. The day-3 picks were lackluster.
Final thoughts: Ultimately, this draft is going to be defined by how well Daniels performs in the coming seasons. If everything else is perfect, this team will go nowhere if he can’t become a franchise QB. He certainly has the upside, but I wonder if the Commanders did enough up front to protect him. Learn from RGIII: don’t forsake your rookie QB.
3. New England Patriots: B-
What went well: New England finally added a few weapons in WRs Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker and TE Jaheim Bell. G Layden Robinson and CB Marcellas Dial were major steals on day 3.
What didn’t go well: They basically drafted Sam Howell 3rd overall by taking Drake Maye. The Patriots didn’t trade their pick for a reported 3 first-rounders. Taking a second QB in Joe Milton was a foolish move that sabotages their first.
Final thoughts: As with Washington above, New England’s class will be defined by their QB. I mean their first one, not the dumb 6th-round pick that risks becoming the (less effective) Kirk Cousins to Robert Griffin III. Maye has tremendous upside, but his decision-making worries me. I liked a lot of the rest of NE’s approach. The weapons and linemen were highly necessary.
4. Arizona Cardinals: B+
What went well: Armed with 11 picks, the Cardinals didn’t trade the #4 overall selection. Instead, they stood pat and drafted WR Marvin Harrison Jr, the best overall prospect in the class. Their 5th-round pick, RT Christian Jones, should’ve gone 3 rounds earlier.
What didn’t go well: CB Max Melton and RB Trey Benson were reaches considering the fact that better players were available at these positions when Arizona picked them.
Final thoughts: This class was heavily swayed by the very first draft choice. I feared that Arizona might be tempted by Minnesota to make a big trade, thereby losing out on Harrison. To their credit, they declined and took the elite receiver. As owners of one of the league’s worst roster, they made a lot of picks, especially in the trenches and the secondary, which were major weaknesses.
5. Los Angeles Chargers: B-
What went well: New HC Jim Harbaugh got to assert his dominance with a tackle pick at #5. That tackle, Joe Alt, happened to be this class’s best. Their 7th-round WRs, Brendan Rice and Cornelius Johnson, were steals. LA nabbed one of my favorite RBs in Kimani Vidal.
What didn’t go well: The tackle choice cost the Bolts Malik Nabers or Rome Odunze, two of the 3 elite wideouts in the top 10 who would’ve filled a major need. GM Joe Hortiz is apparently a weakling.
Final thoughts: The fact that this grade was a B- despite a D for round 1 tells you how well LA did in the rest of the draft. I really hated the tackle pick with Rashawn Slater already in tow because it showed me that the team has an awful power structure. In addition, Alt has never played RT. Everything else was pretty fantastic, which really boosted the overall grade.
6. New York Giants: A-
What went well: NYG resisted the urge to draft a QB or trade up, staying put to draft WR Malik Nabers at #5 overall. To replace Xavier McKinney, they selected the best safety in the class (Tyler Nubin). None of their picks were major reaches.
What didn’t go well: Their picks in round 3 and beyond don’t necessarily come with a lot of upside.
Final thoughts: I think GM Joe Schoen really nailed this draft. He knew that he couldn’t escape from Daniel Jones’ albatross of a contract until next season, and he didn’t panic. Keeping the 5th pick and selecting Nabers, filling the biggest need on the roster, was wise, even if they tried to trade up. My criticisms are nit-picking, as the Giants needed to go safe and hit on their picks.
7. Tennessee Titans: B
What went well: Tennessee finally found a lineman in JC Latham. The day-3 defensive prospects, especially LB Cedric Gray and CB Jarvis Brownlee Jr, were really good values.
What didn’t go well: Many more linemen are still needed. The Titans traded up to draft a DT with a recent DUI (T’Vondre Sweat), though I love him as a player.
Final thoughts: The draft board didn’t break Tennessee’s way. I’m sure they expected Joe Alt to reach their pick, because he should have! I like the way they pivoted to Latham and then got to work fortifying their defense. Sweat is really talented and fits great with Jeffery Simmons, but he has character issues to address. This was solid work overall.
8. Atlanta Falcons: F
What went well: DT Brandon Dorlus was a great value in the 4th round.
What didn’t go well: Just about everything else. They made the dumbest pick in years by drafting a QB (Michael Penix Jr) after handing $180M ($100M guaranteed) to Kirk Cousins. Atlanta traded up in round 2 to take Ruke Orhorhoro, a 4th-round DT prospect, one slot ahead of my favorite DT (Jer’Zhan Newton). The Falcons drafted an RB (Jase McClellan) to take carries away from Bijan Robinson for some reason.
Final thoughts: I only give a Jamarcus Russell grade if every single pick is bad. So congratulations to Dorlus and DE Bralen Trice for keeping the Falcons from that ignominious distinction. The Penix pick has a chance to damage Atlanta for half a decade. He’s a top-10 pick who won’t play for years, and his selection has destroyed the trust between the team and their supposed franchise QB. I feel badly for Penix, as this is a bad landing spot and not at all his fault. Whoever is to blame has major explaining to do.
9. Chicago Bears: B+
What went well: Chicago finally found the QB they’ve been searching for in Caleb Williams. WR Rome Odunze was my 2nd-ranked receiver in the draft, and Williams really wanted him. DE Austin Booker was a sneaky good pick with great upside.
What didn’t go well: The Bears never traded down despite coming into the draft with 4 picks. In fact, they traded a 2025 selection for another pick this year. Odunze wasn’t really a need with DJ Moore and Keenan Allen around. Their Yale tackle (Kiran Amegadjie) was a major reach. They took a 4th-round punter.
Final thoughts: With such a small class, each pick weighs heavily. Fortunately, their first 2 were slam dunks, even if I would’ve preferred a trade down from #9 instead of another receiver. I don’t forget, however, that one missing pick was traded for Allen. Williams is the key to all of this. If he succeeds, and he is being put in a fantastic position to do so, Chicago is an immediate playoff team. This fanbase hasn’t had such hope in ages.
10. New York Jets: C-
What went well: They swindled the Vikings into moving up 1 spot for JJ McCarthy. Aaron Rodgers got a new weapon (WR Malachi Corley) and a new guardian (OT Olumuyiwa Fashanu).
What didn’t go well: The Fashanu pick came at the cost of TE Brock Bowers, who was still on the board and would’ve been a perfect fit. NYJ picked 2 RBs when they didn’t even really need one. What on earth was the trade up for Jordan Travis?
Final thoughts: New York missed some real opportunities. While they got a good player in Fashanu, he may not play in 2024, which doesn’t fit a win-now mentality. Corley was the best pick by far, as the rest were suspect. Travis is coming off a broken leg and was already viewed as a fringe prospect. How does that help? The pair of RBs was perplexing, as I thought the Jets were high on Israel Abanikanda, and we know that Breece Hall is good. NYJ got a little better, but not as much as possible.
11. Minnesota Vikings: D
What went well: Dallas Turner might end up being the edge rusher in this class. CB Khyree Jackson and OT Walter Rouse were nice finds on day 3.
What didn’t go well: The team didn’t have a single day-2 pick and is down to just 3 selections in 2025 due to trades. Trading up for Turner was very expensive. Taking JJ McCarthy in round 1 was a major failure.
Final thoughts: For the 6 teams that took QBs in the first round, those picks will define their drafts. None of the other 5 took prospects as bad as McCarthy, who basically did nothing for Michigan but let the talent around him carry the team. At least the Vikings didn’t trade up to #4 as anticipated. I love Turner, but as a result of these trades, will the Vikings participate much in the 2025 draft? The collateral damage from these moves has not yet been defined.
12. Denver Broncos: C+
What went well: At least among the poor QB picks, Denver got one of the better ones. I loved the Jonah Elliss selection in round 3. Reuniting Bo Nix with WR Troy Franklin was shrewd. The day-3 picks mostly added depths.
What didn’t go well: Taking Nix 12th overall seemed like a desperate moment of panic from the Broncos.
Final thoughts: You probably noticed that the positives are more numerous than the negatives. That’s how you get a C+ after a D in round 1. That initial pick loomed large here. Nix is the most pro-ready QB of this class, but he’s also an older prospect that might be maxed out. He was really a 2nd-round talent. Elliss is being underrated by analysts. His level of production translates regardless of his size. This team is definitely better than it was, but that might not be the biggest accomplishment out there.
13. Las Vegas Raiders: B+
What went well: TE Brock Bowers fell into their lap. The best center, Jackson Powers-Johnson, also somehow fell to them in round 2. All five day-3 picks were good, and the Raiders attacked their weak secondary.
What didn’t go well: Taking Bowers puts last year’s 2nd-round selection of Michael Mayer into question. Third-round OT Delmar Glaze was probably a reach.
Final thoughts: The Raiders faced an unexpected dilemma. Their preferred QB, Michael Penix Jr, was (stupidly) off the board at 13, and Bowers was still available. LV went best player available, which was extremely true of Bowers. I think admitting the mistake of taking Mayer and moving on to an elite talent is a wise decision. I don’t have many complains, so Vegas must’ve done well.
14. New Orleans Saints: A
What went well: Desperately needing a tackle, the Saints got a really good one in Taliese Fuaga. Nabbing CB Kool-Aid McKinstry in the 2nd round was thievery. Spencer Rattler is an intriguing developmental QB. Most of their picks have high upside.
What didn’t go well: Taking a QB a year after selecting Jake Haener in the 4th round is a little odd. Some of these prospects are boom or bust.
Final thoughts: This class turned out even better than I thought once I looked back on it as a whole. The Saints’ first two picks were homeruns, and I didn’t spot a “bad” selection in the entire group. While a few of the players might not pan out, those selections were restricted to day 3. All of the picks have a chance to contribute, making this a really good draft.
15. Indianapolis Colts: A-
What went well: DE Laiatu Latu, and every other defensive player for that matter, fell to the Colts’ first-round pick. WRs Adonai Mitchell and Anthony Gould were great value selections, as the former has WR1 potential and the latter is a good returner. Quality offensive line reinforcements were obtained.
What didn’t go well: Most of the defensive selections after Latu were slight reaches. OT Matt Goncalves wasn’t the best option in the 3rd round with players like Christian Jones available.
Final thoughts: I know the Colts planned to grab a CB in round 1 to fix the secondary, but edge rusher was also a need, and the top guys fell to them. They changed gears and took Latu, a top-10 prospect. Among Indy’s day-3 DBs, only S Jaylin Simpson looks like a really good bet to pan out, but the linemen and Mitchell should really help with QB Anthony Richardson’s development
16. Seattle Seahawks: B-
What went well: G Christian Haynes might be an immediate starter despite being selected in round 3. DT Byron Murphy wasn’t a need, but most view him as DT1 in the class, and he’s definitely a great player. Seattle found more late-round CBs to develop.
What didn’t go well: Aside from Haynes, the offensive line wasn’t adequately addressed. TE AJ Barnes was a major reach, and OT Michael Jerrell was a throwaway pick.
Final thoughts: With acute needs at edge rusher and along the offensive line, Seattle took a DT in the first round. This was in spite of the large contract handed out to Leonard Williams. That was their biggest failing, as players like Dallas Turner and Troy Fautanu would’ve been better picks. We’ll have to wait and see with the rest of the draft, as these players need development. I trust the Seahawks to groom the CBs, but I’m not as confident in their ability to develop linemen or linebackers.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars: B
What went well: The Jaguars found their new WR1 (Brian Thomas Jr) after making a great trade down with Minnesota in round 1. Most of the team’s selections are athletic and have room to grow.
What didn’t go well: These same selections also have significant bust potential. Why did the Jags need two LSU DTs? They drafted a kicker.
Final thoughts: Jacksonville fared significantly better on day 1 than they did the over rest of the draft. Thomas is at the top of the second-tier receivers, and he has insane athleticism to develop if he can become more polished. After that, their best pick was the second LSU DT, Jordan Jefferson. The others will really depend on how the coaches can work with them.
18. Cincinnati Bengals: A-
What went well: Taliese Fuaga didn’t make it to pick 18, but Amarius Mims did, and he has the most potential of any OT in the class. The TE void has been completely filled with Erick All and Tanner McLachlan. Cincy’s run defense problem should be alleviated with DT Kris Jenkins. The secondary got some much-needed depth. DE Cedric Johnson and C Matt Lee are sleepers.
What didn’t go well: The second DT pick, McKinnley Jackson, was superfluous and a reach. With the benefit of hindsight, the Bengals probably should’ve picked someone other than All if they knew they could snag McLachlan.
Final thoughts: As a team with Super Bowl aspirations, the Bengals had to pick to fill needs, and they did just that. Mims can learn behind Trent Brown before taking over. QB Joe Burrow got more than just protection; he now has a couple of new toys at the TE spot. I also liked the late swings at DBs, as that position group dealt with injuries last season. I have nothing too negative to say about most of the picks. This was a very strong draft haul.
19. Los Angeles Rams: B
What went well: DE Jared Verse is a polished player who can start on day 1. S Kamren Kinchens fell because of his 40 time, but he’s instinctive and has fantastic ball skills. The Rams took 4 defensive linemen to try and make up for the loss of Aaron Donald.
What didn’t go well: DT Byron Murphy was scooped up by a division rival, so they traded up and reached on Braden Fiske. They drafted a kicker. Taking an RB (Blake Corum) on day 2 didn’t make sense.
Final thoughts: I know Donald left big shoes to fill, but I wasn’t expecting THREE defensive tackle picks. Both Fiske and Tyler Davis are undersized, but they are quality interior rushers. The acquired offensive line depth was nice, though it remains to be seen if any starters emerge. This was a decent group for Les Snead, who has earned the benefit of the doubt with respect to late-round picks.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: A-
What went well: Days 1 and 2 were excellent in their entirety. Two sorely needed linemen were acquired, and both (OT/G Troy Fautanu and C Zach Frazier) are plug-and-play starters. WR Roman Wilson gives QB Russell Wilson a new weapon. LB Payton Wilson (yes, there are many Wilsons here) is the draft’s best ILB if he’s healthy.
What didn’t go well: Only G Mason McCormick has future starting potential among the Steelers’ 3 picks on day 3. Payton Wilson is missing an ACL, so we don’t know how long he’ll last.
Final thoughts: As usual, the Steelers had a grounded and practical approach to their draft. They knew what a top-heavy class this was, so they did most of their damage on the first two days. I don’t know yet if Russell Wilson or Justin Fields will solve Pittsburgh’s QB quandary, but either will be in great position to succeed based on the moves made in this draft.
21. Miami Dolphins: C+
What went well: OT Patrick Paul has more upside than people realize. WRs Malik Washington and Tahj Washington were both great values on day 3. EDGE Mohammed Kamara is an athletic player with great upside, making him a perfect project to develop behind Bradley Chubb and Jaelen Phillips.
What didn’t go well: EDGE Chop Robinson was a reach at pick 21 because he’s a bit of a tweener. Why would this team trade a 2025 3rd-round pick for ANOTHER running back? Miami blew its chance to obtain Kingsley Suamataia.
Final thoughts: This was a really middling draft. Robinson has fans in league circles, but edge rusher wasn’t a primary need. Kamara was the type of rusher they needed to obtain instead of spending a first-round pick. Paul isn’t ready to start, so although he’s likely to be very good in a couple years, he doesn’t help a playoff team right now. Additionally, by passing on Suamataia, they let him go to Kansas City. The Washingtons were steals, but how many WRs does this team need?
22. Philadelphia Eagles: A+
What went well: Without having to move up, Philly got their preferred CB in Quinyon Mitchell. They somehow followed that up with DB Cooper DeJean, another 1st-round prospect, in round 2. Trader Howie Roseman masterfully maneuvered the board, amassing picks and acquiring value from every draft slot.
What didn’t go well: The two offensive linemen they selected late might be backups and DE Jalyx Hunt is a project? I’m grasping at straws here.
Final thoughts: Simply put, the Eagles won the draft. The team’s crippling weakness was its secondary, and that was beaten into submission by two defensive back selections in the first two rounds. Both had top-20 grades from scouts, so they were great values in addition to necessary choices. Philly found some offensive playmakers in RB Will Shipley and WRs Ainias Smith and Johnny Wilson. They even added a productive LB in Jeremiah Trotter Jr. Teams really shouldn’t let Roseman get away with this.
23. Cleveland Browns: B-
What went well: The specter of the Deshaun Watson trade has at long last been lifted. DT Michael Hall Jr could be a star is he plays up to his potential. LB Nathaniel Watson is an insane producer who shouldn’t have been available in round 6.
What didn’t go well: That Watson trade left the Browns without a first-round pick in a top-heavy class. Allocating a pick to a WR and another to a guard wasn’t ideal considering the Browns’ limited resources. Only two of these picks have really good potential.
Final thoughts: Cleveland is another team that dug itself an unnecessary hole due to a trade from more than a year ago, but they didn’t do badly considering the low amount of capital they possessed. I think playing alongside Myles Garrett will really help Hall, and Watson should slot in very well behind both of them. The rest of the class seems like it was designed for the future, not a Browns team that wants to win now.
24. Dallas Cowboys: B
What went well: Dallas traded back in round 1 and still got the tackle they wanted (Tyler Guyton). Cooper Beebe is my favorite guard in the draft. DE Marshawn Kneeland is a freaky athlete for the team to hone. LB Marist Liufau should help replace Leighton Vander Esch. DT Justin Rogers should help the Cowboys’ run defense.
What didn’t go well: Guyton may not be ready to start in 2024 without some hiccups, and the same is true for fellow OT pick Nathan Thomas. Most of the day-3 picks are merely average.
Final thoughts: Until day 3 came along, I didn’t really have a problem with any of the Cowboys’ picks…in a vacuum. My problem is that except for Beebe, most of Dallas’ high-upside picks are developmental projects who need quite a bit of time before they’re ready to start. Considering that Jerry Jones just proclaimed his team to be all-in, that’s a curious juxtaposition.
25. Green Bay Packers: C+
What went well: The Packers found a replacement for David Bakhtiari with first-round OT Jordan Morgan. RB Marshawn Lloyd can push Josh Jacobs. CB Kalen King was once an elite prospect, so maybe he’ll be a hidden gem.
What didn’t go well: I don’t think any team needs to draft 3 safeties in one class. Wasting a 7th-rounder on QB isn’t too impactful, but that doesn’t make it smart. LB Edgerrin Cooper is athletic but comes with character concerns.
Final thoughts: We knew that the Packers would address the offensive line, which they did to a degree. The secondary was another target, but GB needed more corners, not a million safeties. Two of those safeties (Evan Williams and Kitan Oladapo) are near-duplicates. Some of these guys can compete immediately, but Green Bay is not appreciably better than they were last week.
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: A-
What went well: The Bucs found the interior lineman they wanted more than anything in Graham Barton. All three day-2 picks can start now or in the future. Tampa grabbed one of my favorite RBs, Bucky Irving.
What didn’t go well: None of these picks is likely to put the Buccaneers over the top in their quest for an NFC South three-peat.
Final thoughts: This class has almost no blemishes. Some of the selections aren’t exciting, including Barton as an inside lineman, but they do the dirty work. Is Tampa better than Atlanta? Probably not, but their drafts were at opposite ends of the spectrum, with TB really doing a good job adding depth and plugging some holes. Their picks form a nice blend of offense and defense, both of which were decent but not amazing a year ago.
27. Houston Texans: A
What went well: The Texans were missing their first-round pick, but they can just stare at Will Anderson pictures and instantly feel better about that. Some offensive line help was acquired in OT Blake Fisher and G LaDarius Henderson. CB Kamari Lassiter and S Calen Bullock were both good values to help the secondary. TE prospect Cade Stover massages cattle.
What didn’t go well: That missing 1st-round pick could’ve really helped in the trenches.
Final thoughts: I’m genuinely impressed at how well the Texans did despite not having a pick until #42 overall. They addressed their two weakest groups, the offensive line and the secondary, with two picks each. After that, Houston added depth all across the roster, showing that they’ve truly transitioned from a rebuilding team to win-now mode.
28. Buffalo Bills: A
What went well: WR Keon Coleman was acquired to help replace Stefon Diggs. In doing so, the Bills scooped up several picks over two trades down to #33. Ray Davis was my top RB in the draft. Buffalo took a starting center (Sedrick Van Pran-Granger) with a 5th-round selection. Javon Solomon is a crazy-productive edge rusher despite coming from Troy.
What didn’t go well: The Bills traded down with KC, helping their main rival obtain the fastest player in the draft (WR Xavier Worthy). I’d have liked Buffalo to draft one more wideout.
Final thoughts: I nearly gave Buffalo an A+. No player dropped the grade; it was helping the Chiefs that irked me. Everything else was exceptional. An offense that had grown stale saw an infusion of talent, including a receiver, a running back, and 3 linemen. The defense got help, too, especially with S Cole Bishop. The Bills lost both starting safeties this offseason, and Bishop really shined throughout the pre-draft process. This was great work, but next time, maybe don’t help your mortal enemies?
29. Detroit Lions: B+
What went well: Detroit traded up, exciting their home crowd, to take my #1 CB in Terrion Arnold. They drafted another first-round CB prospect in Ennis Rakestraw Jr, relentlessly upgrading the secondary, which was the team’s Achilles heel. The Lions’ last two picks, DT Mekhi Wingo and G Christian Mahogany, were great values who might become starters.
What didn’t go well: I can’t see the logic in trading two 2025 mid-round picks for a Canadian tackle project (Giovanni Manu) and a middling RB/S hybrid (Sione Vaki).
Final thoughts: Two of Detroit’s picks were terrible, yet the rest of the class is so good that the Lions still get a B+. I would’ve been fine with this team selecting 4 DBs. They didn’t quite do that, but they grabbed two with their first two picks and made excellent choices. The Lions followed that up with added depth and competition in the trenches. I wonder if someone kidnapped GM Brad Holmes during the 4th round. If anyone else has a better explanation, feel free to let me know.
30. Baltimore Ravens: B+
What went well: CB Nate Wiggins falling to Baltimore at pick #30 is completely typical. Second-round OT Roger Rosengarten should immediately step in to replace the departed Morgan Moses. Their other CB pick, TJ Tampa, was an incredible value.
What didn’t go well: Despite choosing good players, perhaps spending two picks on CBs wasn’t the best use of resources. Most of the day-3 picks are likely going to become backups. I don’t get the Devin Leary pick.
Final thoughts: The least-surprising thing you’ll see me say is that Baltimore drafted well. It’s just what they do. They didn’t have a perfect weekend though, as I’m not sure they adequately addressed the offensive line or replaced Patrick Queen. Among the players they took, most were quality selections. The secondary is in much better shape, and the Ravens did obtain a new right tackle. Another year, another good set of rookies for GM Eric DeCosta.
31. San Francisco 49ers: D-
What went well: The two WRs SF took, Ricky Pearsall and Jacob Cowing, are both good players who might see the field sooner than later.
What didn’t go well: Most of these picks, especially Pearsall, were egregious reaches. The Niners failed to draft a quality right tackle despite encountering several opportunities to do so. They too traded with KC to let them take a player at a position of need, handing them OT Kingsley Suamataia. HC Kyle Shanahan has an obsession with needlessly drafting mid-round RBs.
Final thoughts: Only Atlanta did a worse job in this draft than the 49ers. While I don’t have an F grade on any of these picks, none of them earned a positive grade either. With WRs Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel staying, the team didn’t need 2 WRs to try and win a Super Bowl. Even if they did, Pearsall was a late 2nd-round prospect, and I had at least 5 other receivers ahead of him when SF made their pick. Finally, with Brock Purdy running for his life against the Chiefs, you’d think that maybe you want a right tackle. Instead, the 49ers took a pair of average guards. Detroit might be the NFC favorites at this point.
32. Kansas City Chiefs: A-
What went well: Their rivals oddly let them trade up in each of the first two rounds to acquire prospects they badly wanted. Those players, WR Xavier Worthy and OT Kingsley Suamataia, fill the two main needs the Chiefs had entering the draft. DC Steve Spagnuolo got a couple more late-round DBs to develop. TE Jared Wiley could be Travis Kelce’s successor.
What didn’t go well: I’m not sure either trade up was necessary given that the teams they jumped ahead of weren’t interested in the prospects KC desired.
Final thoughts: The best teams are good for a reason. Kansas City keeps drafting and developing good young players, enabling them to replace emerging stars who price themselves out of town. They did it again here. Worthy and Suamataia are filling big holes on offense, while S Jaden Hicks was a steal who can help ease the blow of losing CB L’Jarius Sneed. This team remains a force to be reckoned with because they do such a good job of identifying and acquiring talent.