NFL: Grading the draft - part one
By: Will Aimette
Was Cam Ward the right pick for the Titans? It seems so. The number one pick earned it, dominating every team he played last year. Ward looks to continue his success in Tennessee, coming in to an offense that desperately needs help.
Tennessee Titans: B - 85
Reasons: Cam Ward was a solid first pick. It was obvious that it would happen as they badly needed a QB. Will he be good? Maybe, but the only reason the Titans got him was because of their needs, instead of drafting the “best player available” approach. In a QB-lacking draft, it wasn’t the worst the Titans could do. As for their other picks, none looked like difference makers besides a solid lineman in Oluwafemi Oladejo, who they drafted in the second round. The Titans desperately needed to add interior lineman to help out Jeffery Simmons, and they did just that.
Jacksonville Jaguars: B - 88
Reasons: Travis Hunter was a great pick for the Jaguars. Most people thought they were settling for a D-Lineman in Mason Graham, but the Jags went bold. They traded with the Browns to get Travis Hunter. That’s one way to bring some fans into your stadium. Besides solving Jacksonville’s fan dilemma, Travis Hunter offers so much more. His speed combined with Trevor Lawrence’s arm is deadly. And once he starts at CB, he’ll only bring more and more to the team. The only problem with their picks? Now they don’t have a good D-Lineman. The rest of the draft the Jaguars proceeded to not draft a single D-Lineman. And they didn’t bring one in the offseason. So like I was saying, the “best player available” approach has its pros and cons.
New York Giants: A - 96
Reasons: The Giants aced this draft. On top of getting a great D-Lineman, they got the second-best QB in the draft, Jaxson Dart. He is an elite QB whose draft stock has risen from fourth-round to late-first-round. And that’s exactly where the Giants took him. They played it perfectly, not reaching for him with a top-five pick. Because of this, they got Abdul Carter. Carter is a physical specimen out of Penn State, leading the league in sacks and QB pressures. Then, in the fourth round, they got a great underdog in Cam Skattebo, who at best can look like Derrick Henry. So, the Giants got a bunch of beasts this draft. So, why did I give them only a 96? Well, mainly because of injuries. All three players I mentioned are very injury-prone, as Skattebo got an elbow injury last month, Carter was out for playoffs, and Dart missed most of his last game due to an ankle injury. Still, this class the Giants brought in was elite, and probably the best in the draft.
New England Patriots: A - 93
Reasons: After signing WR Stefon Diggs in free agency, the Patriots were here for two things: A running back and an O-Lineman. And that is exactly what they did. The Patriots drafted the best lineman in the class, Will Campbell. He allowed only one sack all season for LSU. Then in the second round, they got TreVeyon Henderson, a top three running back in the class out of OSU. All in all it was a simple but effective draft, as they got exactly what they came for.
Cleveland Browns: A - 95
Reasons: While I disagree with the decision to trade down, the Browns made a great comeback from the first round. I mean, passing up on the number two pick and generational talent Travis Hunter or Abdul Carter is crazy. Instead, they settled with Mason Graham, who is significantly worse than both. But I had to give them an A for a reason, right? Well, after the first round, things went up. The Browns might have gotten the best player from every round after that. I mean, here’s the list: EDGE Carson Schwesinger, RB Quinshon Judkins,TE Harold Fanin Jr, QB Dylan Gabriel, and QB Shedeur Sanders. Talk about upside. The Browns got a solid edge rusher behind Mason Graham and Myles Garrett, one of the most upside running backs in the league, one of the best tight ends in the class, and two MAJOR upside QB’s. What’s the problem with upside? Well, most aren’t good, but few are great. So why not get two QB’s? One of them will turn out good.
Las Vegas Raiders: B - 85
Reason: We all know Ashton Jeanty was a reach. Rarely will a running back, no less from Boise State be a borderline top five pick. I’m not saying Jeanty doesn’t deserve it, but the Raiders could have gotten him about 15 picks later. As for the rest of the draft, it was simply average outside of a good WR pick up in round two they needed badly. This was their best pick of the draft. After trading up with Houston, they selected Jack Bech, a solid consistent WR to add to their weak core. So the Raiders definitely improved their team, but they didn’t bring in players that will make them significantly better next season.
New York Jets: B - 84
The Jets got what they needed in the first round, then not much more. After getting Membou, one of the best O-lineman in the draft, they got exactly the protection they needed for new signing Justin Fields. After that, their round two pick was simply OK, and their second round pick was worse than that. Their picks were clearly forced towards positions they needed. I’m sorry, but TE Mason Taylor is a forced pick, he should not be going in the second round.
Carolina Panthers: B - 87
The Panthers quietly put together a solid draft. They got one wide receiver that could completely alter their offense in Tetairoa McMillan, the best receiver in the class. Besides that, the Panthers got two edge rushers that will greatly help out their defense after the departure of Bran Burns Jr. Plus, they got another receiver with possibly just as high an upside as McMillan. The craziest part? He was drafted with the Panthers last pick. That player was Jimmy Horn Jr, the counterpart to Travis Hunter on Colorado’ receiving core.
New Orleans Saints: C - 79
With the Saints finally having a mostly-healthy roster coming into the 2025-26 season, they only needed a couple pieces to build a competing roster. And knowing the Saints draft history, what did they do? Put together possibly the worst class in the 2025 draft. I mean, they got a decent O-lineman in the first round, which wasn’t the best or worst, but from there it just got worse. In round two they pulled off the biggest reach in the draft, getting a QB out of Louisiana that frankly, I haven’t even heard of. And I was paying attention to this draft pretty closely. I mean, the guy was projected to be a late fifth rounder and the saints took him in the top 40. Then, with their two third round picks, they got two role players at best. So, unless one of their picks has an unexpected breakout next season, I think with nine picks in the draft, only one will start.
Chicago Bears: B - 86
Reason: The Bears desperately needed some help around Caleb Williams. And when I said help, I mean a tight end for him to throw to, and an O-lineman to protect him. I mean, Williams got sacked more than anyone in the league. So with the Saints taking the third lineman in the top ten, the Bears only had one option, which was Colston Loveland, a tight end out of Michigan. Then, they drafted the best player available in the second round, getting another talented WR (although they didn’t really need one). They finally drafted a lineman in the third round, but I don’t think it will be enough to protect WIlliams. So while the Bears did add lots of talent, it wasn’t exactly what they were looking for.
San Francisco 49ers: B - 81
Reason: The 49ers had so many picks in the first five rounds of the draft. And they didn’t really do much with them. They needed a good edge rusher, which they got in Mykel Williams, but the rest of the draft was not good at all. They got a middle-of-the road D-tackle and a linebacker in the second and third round, and pretty much wasted their picks on guys that I just can’t see being difference makers.
Dallas Cowboys: C - 79
Reason: The Cowboys had some of the driest picks this draft. So honestly, there’s not much to write about. They got a decent O-lineman, Tyler Booker in the first round that can help Dak Prescott after coming back from injury, then drafted an average edge rusher in the second. I honestly can’t see anybody start besides Booker.
Miami Dolphins: C - 77
Reason: None of the Dolphins picks were good. None. They didn’t need a D-tackle, which they drafted in the first round, then got guys that would sit on the bench their whole career. And to top it off, they randomly got a QB in the seventh round in Quinn Ewers. Now Ewers was very good in his college career, and if he were to start it would be a good pick. But the Dolphins have a pro-bowl quarterback. I have no clue what the Dolphins were doing this draft.
Indianapolis Colts: B - 89
Reason: The Colts made very good use of not a very high pick. Getting Tyler Warren at pick 14 has great value. Warren is on the same level (and possibly better), then Colston Loveland, who was taken in the top 10. Then the Colts drafted other difference makers getting a good edge rusher and a O-lineman in the next three rounds. Although some of their later picks weren’t as smart as their earlier ones, the Colts got exactly what they wanted in the first few rounds and put together a solid class.
Atlanta Falcons: A - 94
Reason: The Falcons came into the 2025 draft with the least amount of picks out of any team. And for the value of the picks compared to where they drafted, they might have the best draft out of any team. They got an edge rusher at pick 15 in Jalon Walker out of Georgia. This guy could have easily been a top ten pick, and is comparable to some top five picks. Then Atlanta traded with the Rams for another first round pick, getting yet ANOTHER first round edge in James Pearce Jr, who also is considered top 15. Talk about value. Then, in the sedond round, they got safety Xavier Watts, who has a very high upside out of Notre Dame. Paired with Jesse Bates lll, this defense is looking very strong.
Arizona Cardinals: C - 77
Reason: In contrast to the Falcons, the Cardinals drafted INCREDIBLY badly. The only reason I gave them this high of a rating was because CB Will Johnson in the middle of the second round was one of the biggest steals of the draft. Their first round pick however, was an D-lineman, which was clearly forced. They got Walter Nolen out of Mississippi, who was projected to be drafted in the second round. But in the actual second round, they got a CB projected to be a first rounder. Weird. After that, the rest of the draft stunk. I don’t even know if their first round pick will even play, to be honest. But hey, at least they got a good cornerback.
