What grade did your team earn in the draft?
We rank all 32 NFL franchises on how they fared in the weekend draft
Yes, it’s too early to do this, but USA TODAY grades the NFL teams on how they did in the draft (teams are listed alphabetically by city within each grade tier):
Cleveland Browns: A
You reel in a player the caliber of WR Odell Beckham Jr., especially in his prime, at the cost of your first-rounder (plus a bit more), then you probably deserve an A. When you also snatch CB Greedy Williams and ILB Mack Wilson, potentially both immediate starters (and good ones), then you’ve gone above and beyond.
Miami Dolphins: A
First-round DT Christian Wilkins is a highly productive, talented and versatile player and one likely to emerge as a strong locker room voice, all things this rebooting franchise badly needs. Third-round G Michael Deiter was another nice pickup for a team that had deteriorated in the trenches. But the trade for QB Josh Rosen looks like a heist.
New England Patriots: A
First-round WR N’Keal Harry’s skills seem perfectly suited to where Tom Brady is in the twilight (right?) of his career. All of the Day 2 picks (CB Joejuan Williams, OLB-DE Chase Winovich, RB Damien Harris and, maybe, OT Yodny Cajuste) appear poised to contribute immediately to a team that lost key players in free agency.
San Francisco 49ers: A
DE Nick Bosa was widely regarded as the top player coming out this year and bolsters what should be a nasty D-line. Spending next year’s secondrounder on a trade for established pass rusher Dee Ford looks like a bargain considering what his former team, Kansas City, subsequently surrendered for Frank Clark. WRs Deebo Samuel and Jalen Hurd should add zip to a passing game.
Arizona Cardinals: A
QB Kyler Murray in the first, CB Byron Murphy and WR Andy Isabella in the second, DE Zach Allen in the third, WR Hakeem Butler in the fourth, S Deionte Thompson in the fifth — sure felt like GM Steve Keim just knocked down pick after pick after pick.
Buffalo Bills: A
Landing DT Ed Oliver at No. 9 might prove a steal for an underrated defense. After that, GM Brandon Beane returned to his task of upgrading the supporting cast around second-year QB Josh Allen, adding a quality blocker (Cody Ford), a needed tight end (Dawson Knox) and an infusion of youth and ability (Devin Singletary) to an antiquated running back room.
Chicago Bears: A
It was light on quantity (five selections), but it brought them Khalil Mack. Period. Third-round RB David Montgomery seems better designed for this offense than departed predecessor Jordan Howard. WR Riley Ridley came relatively cheaply in Round 4.
Jacksonville Jaguars: A
Josh Allen was sitting there at No. 7, and the Jags didn’t flinch, though they probably had more pressing needs elsewhere. Getting Florida OT Jawaan Taylor in Round 2, a player many mock drafts projected to Jacksonville in the first round, was a coup.
Washington Redskins: A
The ’Skins not only averted a rumored disaster but also showed atypical patience, potentially walking away with two first-round blue-chippers in QB Dwayne Haskins and OLB Montez Sweat. Maybe the only person who didn’t appreciate this draft was last year’s second-rounder, injured RB Derrius Guice. But who can fault Washington for its Bryce Love insurance policy?
Dallas Cowboys: B+
They spent what turned out to be the 27th pick at last year’s trade deadline for WR Amari Cooper. Second-round DT Trysten Hill could be highly disruptive between DEs DeMarcus Lawrence and Robert Quinn. Hate to debate too much regarding third-round G Connor McGovern given this team’s penchant for trotting out a strong O-line, but did Dallas wait too long to get the safety team brass openly coveted?
Indianapolis Colts: B+
GM Chris Ballard seems to be establishing his own reputation as a master draft board manipulator, ultimately picking thrice in the second round, where CB Rock Ya-Sin, LB Ben Banogu and swift WR Parris Campbell only seem to brighten this rising team’s horizon.
New York Jets: B+
Alabama DT Quinnen Williams, the third overall pick and best player of the whole bunch according to some experts, should make a high-potential player like third-round edge rusher Jachai Polite better. And don’t forget, this year’s second-rounder was swapped in the trade that produced Darnold last year.
Seattle Seahawks: B+
GM John Schneider began the week with a league-low four draft picks but added 11 players to his roster by the time the event concluded. Without the Seattle context, first-round DL L.J. Collier and second-round S Marquise Blair seem overdrafted. However, Schneider gets a pass given his acute feel for this roster’s needs. Getting WR DK Metcalf with the final pick of Round 2 might ultimately prove larcenous.
Tennessee Titans: B+
Mississippi’s A.J. Brown will arguably emerge as this draft’s premier wideout after a stellar stint in Oxford and looks like a great value choice at No. 51. Last, but certainly not least, firstround DT Jeffery Simmons could be another cagey choice by GM Jon Robinson.
Baltimore Ravens: B
Understandable that newly promoted GM Eric DeCosta would continue customizing this offense for secondyear QB Lamar Jackson. The combo of Round 1 WR Marquise Brown and Round 3 WR Miles Boykin brings a nice dose of speed and size, respectively, and should dovetail with what Jackson currently provides as a raw passer. The question might be whether DeCosta did enough to reload the gutted front seven of a defense that ranked No. 1 overall in 2018.
Los Angeles Chargers: B
No bells, whistles or trades, just right down the fairway. First-round DT Jerry Tillery and second-round S Nasir Adderley have huge opportunities to flourish as they parachute into a defense with the potential to be exceptionally good.
Minnesota Vikings: B
The O-line (and run game in general) got needed assistance with first-round C Garrett Bradbury, fourth-round G Dru Samia and a back (third-rounder Alexander Mattison) who could take the load off injury-riddled Dalvin Cook. Secondround TE Irv Smith should do quite a bit of damage against defenses understandably eyeing this club’s wideouts.
Oakland Raiders: B
You can quibble that the price was a little high for fourth overall pick Clelin Ferrell, but there’s no guarantee he would have remained available down the board had Oakland lured a trade partner. But make no mistake, new GM Mike Mayock wanted high-character, highly productive players who love the game, and Ferrell checks those boxes. Subsequent first-rounders Josh Jacobs and Johnathan Abram also seem like the foundational players such picks warrant, and second-round CB Trayvon Mullen could prove nearly as valuable.
Philadelphia Eagles: B
Second-round RB Miles Sanders could be a rookie of the year dark horse for a team that struggled to fill the position in 2018. First-round LT Andre Dillard and the other second-rounder, WR J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, look like shrewd investments.
Carolina Panthers: B
First-round DE Brian Burns, secondround OT Greg Little, third-round QB Will Grier and fourth-round pass rusher Christian Miller all seemed to arrive at the intersection of need and value.
Green Bay Packers: B
First-round DE Rashan Gary seems like good value at No. 12 even if the defensive line and edge looked well stocked previously. But trading up to No. 21 for S Darnell Savage might not have been necessary. Second-round OL Elgton Jenkins and third-round TE Jace Sternberger should make QB Aaron Rodgers happy.
Los Angeles Rams: B
They spent quite a bit of time on the phone accumulating picks, all of them basically spent on depth and developmental prospects — which makes sense given the state of a roster that just reached a Super Bowl.
Denver Broncos: C+
GM John Elway seemed to get off on the right foot, first-round TE Noah Fant and second-round OL Dalton Risner near-optimal selections to prop up veteran QB Joe Flacco. But then, true to form, Elway couldn’t resist rolling the dice on another passer, Missouri’s Drew Lock, at the expense of three picks. You could argue he’s justified to continue throwing resources at the QB quandary, but at some point he’s also undercutting the rest of the team.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: C+
New coach Bruce Arians must have had to show restraint as GM Jason Licht only gave him one offensive player, sixth-round WR Scott Miller. No. 5 overall pick Devin White looks like a homerun linebacker and a personality this franchise can market.
Detroit Lions: C
They didn’t fulfill their desire to move out of the No. 8 spot, but TE T.J. Hockenson might be the best kind of consolation prize. Pittsburgh Steelers: C
Admire GM Kevin Colbert deviating from his tendencies to trade up for LB Devin Bush — the first man this organization ever dealt into the top 10 for — particularly in light of this defense’s ongoing struggles since Ryan Shazier went down in 2017. But it was a hefty gamble at the cost of a first-, second- and future third-rounder.
Atlanta Falcons: C
They’re poised to field an offensive line with five first-rounders after selecting Chris Lindstrom and Kaleb McGary on Thursday. Make no mistake, this team needed to get better in the trenches. But did GM Thomas Dimitroff pull the trigger a bit early for both players — especially given McGary came at the price of this year’s second- and thirdrounders?
Kansas City Chiefs: C
They gave Seattle a first-rounder this year and a second-rounder next year for the opportunity to give Clark a nine-figure contract. OK, makes sense given the state of K.C.’s defense. But this organization is beginning to reap what it sows by throwing in with players who have burned it with notorious off-field incidents.
Cincinnati Bengals: D+
It would appear they picked a blocking tight end (Drew Sample) in Round 2. Um ... even if he develops into a quality all-around player, the Bengals, who finished last in total defense in 2018, certainly should have been addressing other areas instead. No qualm with firstround OL Jonah Williams.
New Orleans Saints: D+
Commendable move to aggressively land C Erik McCoy, who should immediately spell now-retired Max Unger, in the second round. But the Saints continued a disturbing trend of mortgaging the future, parting with next year’s second-rounder to get McCoy.
Houston Texans: D
To describe their draft as uninspired might prove kind. Only history will determine whether GM Brian Gaine panicked by taking Alabama State OT Tytus Howard in the first round after letting the Eagles jump him for Dillard, who seemed like the perfect guy to step in and safeguard battered QB Deshaun Watson.
New York Giants: D
They wound up with three firstround picks for the first time in franchise history ... and it sure felt like GM Dave Gettleman reached on every one, most notably Duke QB Daniel Jones at No. 6. CB Deandre Baker cost a second-, fourth- and fifth-rounder. And, perhaps worst of all, DT Dexter Lawrence basically takes the roster spot of Odell Beckham Jr. Only benefit of the doubt precludes an F here.