NFL Draft Grades part 1: Picks 1-5

By Will Aimette

(Photo Credit: AP News, CBS Sports)

Remember, these grades aren’t for the entire draft, they’re solely for their top 10 picks. Enjoy!

LAS Vegas raiders: A

Selection: Fernando Mendoza - QB - Indiana

There are some years where first selections in the draft surprise us; years where there are multiple good players for a franchise to choose from with their number one pick. This draft certainly wasn’t one of these years. It felt like a “book move” in chess. There were no other viable options besides Mendoza. He’s a definite franchise QB that got selected by a franchise that desperately needed a franchise QB. Pretty good match, huh? Mendoza comes in at 6’5” and 225 lbs, but don’t count him out as a runner. He’ll put his body on the line to get the extra yard or two when he needs it most. What makes him so appealing to NFL scouts is that he can pretty much do anything. He can scramble, he can throw in play action, he can perform screen passes perfectly, and he can heave the deep ball at a high level. While Mendoza isn’t the most physically gifted QB in the draft, he’s definitely the smartest. He processes defenses faster than anyone in college football, he always makes the right read, and always takes what the defense gives him. The only criticism of him that I’ve ever heard argues that he’s a system quarterback. Even if he is, no problem. He’s entering a young, talented system coached by the offensive coordinator of the super-bowl winning Seahawks. Not to mention, Mendoza will develop extremely well under Tom Brady’s leadership. He’s coming into a much improved offense with a great running back to hand the ball off to, and he has an always-open tight end in Brock Bowers. The O-line has improved by signing Tyler Linderbaum, a great center who will thrive with pro-bowler LT Kolton Miller and young RG Jackson Powers-Johnson. So Mendoza isn’t being put in a terrible situation, especially for first pick standards. He’ll definitely be the starter from Week 1, and although obvious, Mendoza was a great pick that signals the long-awaited turnaround of this franchise.

Pro Comparison: Baker Mayfield

NEW York jets: B

Selection: David Bailey - EDGE - Texas Tech

Even through all the criticism for this pick, it really wasn’t a bad selection by any means. But it certainly wasn’t the best. There were so many good EDGE/LB’s in the draft, all of them are pretty much interchangeable. Sonny Styles is more of a traditional linebacker and is a safer pick, while Bailey is more of a pass rusher. Arvell Reese is the wildcard. That guy can play pretty much anywhere, but he comes with a ton of risk. It makes sense why the Jets took Bailey, they clearly want to establish a stable core of the team. However, I don’t know if I would pass up on the type of talent Reese has. I think he’s definitely a risk worth taking; he’ll probably end up being the best of the EDGE’s in the draft. However, Bailey will slide right into a defense that needs much more attention than it’s getting. The Jets early picks mostly focused on offense (WR Omar Cooper Jr, TE Kenyon Sadiq). The only help the Jets acquired this offseason was LB Demario Davis and CB DeAngelo Ponds. So although the front four needs work, this pick makes the Jets future less painful. But that’s not saying much.

Pro Comparison: Jared Verse

Arizona cardinals: C -

Selection: Jeremiyah Love - RB - Notre Dame

The Cardinals came into the draft with the textbook strategy of “best player available”. There was absolutely no reason to draft a running back. They have James Connor, a solid NFL veteran, Tyler Allgeier, a young power back with the Falcons, and Trey Benson, a young speed back. I don’t see any reason that the team would need a back like Love. On the other hand, the guy is the definition of generational talent. Love is just as strong as someone like Josh Jacobs, he's as fast as Bijan Robinson or Jahmyr Gibbs, and his hands and cuts are similar to Christian McCaffery’s. If you’re going best player available, you got the right guy. But will he succeed on the Cards? The O-line is pretty mediocre, the offensive weapons are the same, and their QB situation won’t take much pressure off the running game. So he’ll most likely have an Ashton Jeanty-like first season. He’ll show a ton of potential, he just won’t live up to the hype of the third pick. Not yet, at least.

Pro Comparison: Jahmyr Gibbs

Tennessee Titans: A -

The Titans looked a little shocked when Love went at three. It was pretty clear they planned to take him with the next pick. But they certainly rebounded in Carnell Tate, as Cam Ward desperately needed a solid target who isn’t 5’ 8”. I just wanna start out by saying Wan’Dale Robinson is incredibly overhyped. A few good games with the Giants got him a four year, 70 million dollar contract. He’s not a wide receiver one, he’s barely a true wide receiver two. There’s a reason the Giants didn’t sign him. So Tate definitely will help Cam Ward develop. The Titans were in the same kind of situation as the Saints coming into the draft. They wanted their young QB to develop, but they needed defensive help desperately. They chose to help their potential franchise QB, and I get it. If you spend a high pick on a player you think will succeed, you should acquire weapons around him to let your QB do just that. My only worry is about the talent of Tate. I think Malik Nabers said it best: “He’s not even the Wide Receiver One on his own college team!” I know he’s playing with one of the best wide receivers in Ohio State history, but still. Becoming a WR1 isn’t something you learn once you get to the highest level. You have to come into the league with that mindset already learned. I also have questions about Tate’s athleticism, he’s not the fastest or the strongest, so he relies heavily on his route running. The Titans probably made the right choice in Tate, they couldn’t afford to wait another year for Cam Ward to slowly progress. Their defense just might be abysmal for another year.

Pro Comparison: Davante Adams

new york Giants - A

This move felt pretty clear to me. If you have the number one ranked overall player in the draft, you gladly take him at five. The Giants went with the best player available, which happened to improve on a position they needed. But did they really? Technically, Reese is listed as a linebacker/EDGE. But even when he was playing linebacker, he didn’t truly fit into the secondary like other talents have the potential to do. He’s definitely an off-ball linebacker, but at least the opposing QB will be under a ton of pressure. The Giants already have Brian Burns and Abdul Carter at EDGE, so Reese will have to play linebacker, but that most likely means he’ll take playing time away from Kayvon Thibodeau, a more conventional linebacker. I probably wouldn’t have changed this pick if I was the general manager of the Giants, since their offense is stable enough and Reese had the highest potential. However, it certainly would’ve been interesting to see a more pass-coverage heavy guy like Sonny Styles fit into the Giants defense. Even though scouts say Reese may be able to cover running backs and tight ends in coverage, I think he’ll be slightly exposed in the passing game. But I have no doubts regarding Reese getting to the QB, as he’s proven he’ll certainly make an impact in that way.

Pro Comparison: Micah Parsons