The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Washington Post
AFC EAST
Buffalo Bills
B The Bills moved down twice Day 1, ultimately trading out of the opening round entirely. But that worked out just fine as they got the wide receiver they needed — after trading four-time Pro Bowl pick Stefon Diggs to Houston — by taking Keon Coleman to begin the second round. The Bills have been remaking their secondary during a transitional offseason, and they continued that effort by getting safety Cole Bishop, a former Starr’s Mill High standout, in the second round.
Miami Dolphins
B-
The Dolphins focused on their lines in the draft’s early stages, getting edge rusher Chop Robinson in Round 1 and offensive tackle Patrick Paul in Round 2. But they still managed to add to their collection of speedsters by trading up in fourth round for big-play RB Jaylen Wright. Getting pass rusher Mohamed Kamara in the fifth round was a great value. Sixth-round WR Malik Washington also could fill a role.
New England Patriots
B+
The Patriots said they would consider trade possibilities. But they were absolutely correct to keep the No. 3 overall choice and use it on Drake Maye. It was the proper spot to land their potential franchise QB. And the Patriots immediately did what they could to help Maye by taking WR Ja’Lynn Polk in the second round and offensive tackle Caedan Wallace in the third round. They also doubled up at QB by taking Joe Milton III in the sixth round. He has the arm strength to be an interesting prospect if the Patriots can refine his skills. This was an excellent start for the Patriots’ new front-office leader, Eliot Wolf, and their first-year coach, Jerod Mayo, as the franchise begins the post-Bill Belichick era.
New York Jets
B The Jets did plenty in free agency and on the trade market to attempt to take advantage of quarterback Aaron Rodgers’s return from his torn Achilles’ tendon. That continued during the draft. The Jets further bolstered their offensive line by using the No. 11 pick on tackle Olu Fashanu. They drew Rodgers’s social media notice by trading up to take WR Malachi Corley to begin the third round. One question is whether Rodgers and the Jets would have benefited more from getting TE Brock Bowers in the opening round. If Rodgers can stay on the field longer than four plays this season, he should have a better team around him. The Jets also got a prospective QB of the future by selecting Jordan Travis in Round 5.
AFC NORTH Baltimore Ravens
B-
The Ravens helped their defense. They fortified their secondary in particular by taking two CBs, Nate Wiggins in Round 1 and T.J. Tampa in what may have been a heist of a fourthround selection. Getting offensive tackle Roger Rosengarten in the second round also was significant.
Cincinnati Bengals
B-
The Bengals did not accommodate a trade request by three-time Pro Bowl pass rusher Trey Hendrickson and had a pretty good draft as they attempt to return to Super Bowl contender status. Joe Burrow should be pleased as the Bengals helped their franchise QB by adding an offensive tackle, first-rounder Amarius Mims, and a wide receiver, third-rounder Jermaine Burton. Second-round DT Kris Jenkins also should be a factor.
Cleveland Browns
C-
The Browns didn’t have a firstround pick but did manage to provide some help to their offensive and defensive lines. They took DT Michael Hall Jr. in Round 2 and guard Zak Zinter in Round 3. It’s probably a draft class that won’t have a major impact as the Browns attempt to keep pace in a rugged division.
Pittsburgh Steelers
B The Steelers focused on offense in the draft’s early stages. They addressed their line with first-round tackle Troy Fautanu and second-round center Zach Frazier, then added a third-round wide receiver in Roman Wilson. Whichever QB emerges as the starter, Russell Wilson or Justin Fields, should benefit. Third-round LB Payton Wilson could be a major contributor if his NFL career is not undone by injuryrelated concerns that, according to NFL Network, include one of his knees now missing an ACL.
AFC SOUTH Houston Texans
C+
The Texans lacked a firstrounder but did manage to make a few potentially useful picks as they try to build on last season’s success and take the next step to becoming a viable contender. They helped their secondary with secondround cornerback Kamari Lassiter and third-round safety Calen Bullock. They also added a second-round offensive tackle, Blake Fisher.
Indianapolis Colts
B There is plenty to like about what the Colts did, even with some risk involved. They were able to get a top pass rusher, Laiatu Latu, at No. 15, aided by the early run on offensive players and perhaps consternation by some teams over Latu’s neck injury that interrupted his college career. The Colts also did well to get WR Adonai Mitchell 20 choices into Round 2 — prompting general manager Chris Ballard’s profanityfilled rant about reports of supposed concern about character issues — and addressed the offensive line by taking tackle Matt Goncalves in the third round.
Jacksonville Jaguars
C+
The Jaguars joined the opening-round run on WRs by taking Brian Thomas Jr. at No. 23. That pick was justified, and he could play a significant role as a rookie after the Jaguars lost Calvin Ridley in free agency. They addressed their defense with second-round DT Maason Smith and third-round CB Jarrian Jones. The Jaguars also participated in the sixthround mini-run on kickers by getting Cam Little.
Tennessee Titans
C+
The Titans’ draft class is huge. They took offensive tackle JC Latham at No. 7 overall, then got DT T’Vondre Sweat early in the second round. That’s more than 700 pounds worth of linemen in two picks. It’s fair to question whether Latham was the right tackle to take at seven, and there were off-field issues to consider with Sweat after he was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. But as a general rule, devoting resources to the line of scrimmage is not a bad way to construct an NFL roster.
AFC WEST Denver Broncos
B Good fortune is every bit as important as sound judgment in determining draft success. The Broncos were lucky they didn’t have to trade up to get their QB; they stayed put at No. 12 and selected Bo Nix. There’s no debating this pick. The Broncos had a desperate need at QB after releasing Russell Wilson. Now it’s up to coach Sean Payton to make things work with Nix, who joins Jarrett Stidham and newcomer Zach Wilson on the roster. The Broncos also got tremendous value by trading up to land Nix’s Oregon teammate, WR Troy Franklin, in the fourth round.
Kansas City Chiefs
B+
The Chiefs moved around in the draft order by making one trade with the Bills, their leading AFC challenger in recent years, and another with the 49ers, their most recent Super Bowl opponent. Shouldn’t those teams be wary of possibly assisting the two-time defending Super Bowl champs? After moving up four spots via their opening-round deal with the Bills, the Chiefs took record-setting speedster Xavier Worthy. Coach Andy Reid undoubtedly will find ways to take advantage of Worthy’s game-breaking potential as a wideout and could give him a look as a kickoff returner. It was a key addition while wide receiver Rashee Rice faces charges and potentially NFL discipline for his role in a six-vehicle crash in Dallas.
Las Vegas Raiders
C-
Getting former UGA TE Brock Bowers with the 13th choice was more than acceptable. He was the draft’s most promising tight end by a wide margin and could be a differencemaker. The Raiders got excellent value by landing center Jackson PowersJohnson in the second round. But it’s a QB-driven league, and the Raiders were the only team with a major QB need and a top-13 pick not to get one of the six prominent QBs available. Now they must try to get by with Gardner Minshew II and Aidan O’Connell.
Los Angeles Chargers
B-
This was a very Jim Harbaugh draft. The Chargers stayed put at No. 5 and made their offensive line the priority by taking tackle Joe Alt, reflecting their new coach’s roster-building philosophy. That pick arguably should have been a wideout following the exits of Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, but the Chargers did take WR Ladd McConkey early in the second round. They used a third-round selection on one of Harbaugh’s former Michigan players, LB Junior Colson.