What a wild first round. It was pretty much chalk until Atlanta flipped the draft on its head.
I hit the following picks:
1. Caleb Williams, Bears
2. Jayden Daniels, Commanders
3. Drake Maye, Patriots
4. Marvin Harrison Jr, Cardinals
6. Malik Nabers, Giants
9. Rome Odunze, Bears
I predicted the following player/team matches, but not at the exact pick:
JJ McCarthy, Vikings
Quinyon Mitchell, Eagles
Brian Thomas Jr, Jaguars
Now, let’s have some instant reaction and grades:
GRADE: A+ The near consensus best QB in the last 4 years. A no brainer.GRADE: A The only knock I can make on this pick is his slight frame and his playing style. Things will have to change if he’s to survive in the NFL.GRADE: B- Huge upside. Patriots had offers for this pick that I probably would have taken, given the lack of talent on this roster.GRADE: A+ Whether they had trade offers or not, Arizona played it smart and stayed put for the best player in the draft.GRADE: A The best offensive tackle in the draft. I think a trade down would have helped the Chargers more, but perhaps there were no offers.GRADE: A+ After Maye was gone, QB was off the table for the Giants. So, they get Daniel Jones a true #1 WR.GRADE: C- Tackle was a position of need, this just felt a bit high for Latham, I think there were better tackles on the board.GRADE: F This isn’t a reflection of the player, I love Penix, but what the hell are the Falcons doing? They just paid Kirk Cousins 100 million and then blindsided him with this pick. GRADE: A Edge was the bigger need, and the Bears had their pick of the best in the draft, but this is how to build around your new franchise QB.GRADE: A Credit where it’s due, the Vikings called the Giants bluff and didn’t make a major move up for McCarthy, they did get a little antsy by moving up one spot.GRADE: A+ Jets did great to get Minnesota to swap spots and then took a long term franchise left tackle.GRADE: D Major reach and I’m not sure I understand the trade for Zach Wilson anymore.GRADE: B+ Easily the best player available, even if it wasn’t at a position of need.GRADE: A+ One of my favorite players in the draft and a major position of need for the Saints.GRADE: C I guess the Colts are good with his medicals, and Latu is probably the most polished edge rusher in the class, I just feel CB was a bigger need.GRADE: A He’ll be the engine that drives this Seahawks defense.GRADE: C+ This would be a steal if not for the price the Vikings paid to moveup to this spot.GRADE: B+ The Bengals have been searching for answers on the offensive line for years. Is Mims finally the answer?GRADE: A Sean McVay might not have liked it, but the Rams made a very good pick here.GRADE: B+ Fautanu gives the Steelers an inside/outside versatile offensive lineman.GRADE: B Edge was a need, but I think offensive line was a bigger need.GRADE: A+ A fast & physical corner, something the Eagles desperately needed, and they didn’t need to move up for him.GRADE: B The Jaguars moved down and still got the WR I mocked to them. Defense was a bigger need, though.GRADE: A+ I had the Lions moving up for a corner in my final mock. They did, but landed an even better one.GRADE: C- It fills a position of need, but I didn’t have a first round grade on Morgan and there were better tackles available.GRADE: A All the edge rushers worth this pick were gone, so the Bucs did a smart pivot to interior offensive line.GRADE: C- Personally, I think Johnny Newton would have been the better pick here.GRADE: B- I worry that Worthy is just all speed, but if anyone can find a way to make it work it’s Andy Reid and the Chiefs.GRADE: A The Cowboys might have preferred Barton after trading down, but Guyton is a damn good consolation prize.GRADE: B Best corner on the board fills a need for the Ravens.GRADE: D I like Pearsall, but I had a late second/early third round grade on him.GRADE: C Nothing against the player, just not sure the Panthers, who have many, many needs, needed to move up and secure a fifth year option on him.
Nickels and Dimes 