By: Andrew Miller, Resident Draft Expert
1. New York Jets: Trevor Lawrence QB, Clemson
    No surprise here. The Jets probably shouldn't have to give up on Sam Darnold this quickly but the temptation might be too hard to pass on Trevor Lawrence. This may be the most slam dunk can’t miss prospect at the position since Andrew Luck. He is that good and most importantly brings an exciting face to NY that they haven’t seen in a while. However, the Jets need to spend big on lineman this Free Agency to help Trevor Out.

2.Jacksonville Jaguars: Trey Lance QB, North Dakota State
    The Jaguars should count themselves lucky that Trey Lance would fall to this spot. In what seems like a race for the top 3 picks to grab a QB, the Jaguars get my favorite QB here. No joke, I am more excited about Trey Lance than Trevor Lawrence. Why? Because I have not seen excellence be pulled off so effortlessly in a college football quarterback my entire life. Sure, he played at NDSU but that really doesn’t matter to me very much. I saw a guy who would make the most amazing throws look easy and routine. The man never threw an INT until his last game at NDSU. Trey Lance in my opinion has Patrick Mahomes upside and I don’t say that lightly. He has a bazooka, an uncanny ability to throw on the run while creating his offense and easily noticeable football IQ. The Jaguars should run to the podium if they are allowed.   

3.Dallas Cowboys: Justin Fields QB, OSU
    This has been a pathetic year for the Cowboys and clearly Jerry does not want to pay Dak Prescott. If this is possible for the Boys they should count their lucky star because they get a true special franchise QB here as well. I have Fields as my No.3 QB but that is to say nothing of his play. He is special and shows special arm strength and arm talent up there with Lance and Lawrence, perhaps even better than Lawrence. He is obviously very mobile as a quarterback. The only area he could stand to improve is possibly throwing on the run but honestly that is only because the people ahead of him are better than him at that. You’re still likely getting a possible All-Pro QB here and the Cowboys might just have their new signal caller.

4. New York Giants: Penei Sewell OT, Oregon
    The Giants miss their shot on replacing Danny Dimes but that may be a blessing in disguise. One thing is very obvious watching Giants football. Their O line STINKS. They just spent the No.4 pick on a Tackle and they are going to do it again here. Except this time they get a sallworth at the LT position which allows Andrew Thomas to move to his natural RT position. Sometimes in football there are no quick fixes and you need to sure up a foundation at the line for a significant rebuild. 

5. Washington Football Team: J’Mar Chase WR, LSU
    At this point in my mock the Football team misses out on the big 3 and while I think Zach Wilson is a good get here, they may want to consider the best WR in the class. You wanna ta;kabout elite size and speed, well he’s right here. People his size should not be able to move the way he can. If he was in the draft last year he would have been WR1, that’s how good he is as a specimen. It might be too much to pass up. 

6. Los Angeles Chargers: Micah Parsons LB, Penn State
    The Chargers are an interesting team because they really only need a couple of positions. While Kenneth Murray has been a revelation at LB for them, it might be too much to pass up drafting Micah Parsons. Parsons is the closest thing as a prospect to Luke Kuechly that you may find from the draft. He is special in coverage with an elite nose for the ball on top of his physical gifts. They run the Seattle Scheme in LA so Parsons and Murray can be their version of Wagner and Wright. I don’t know what it is about him going to Penn State but I think that may be a plus as well given their reputation. It may be too high to take one of the other lineman in this draft so the Chargers should get their elite prospect when they can.

7. Miami Dolphins (via HOU): Gregory Rousseau EDGE, Miami
    The Dolphins are an emerging defense but they are missing a true edge rusher. Kyle Van Noy is great but he is not scary on his own. Rousseau is not only a great player in Miami’s backyard but he is a specimen at his position. This isn’t Myles Garrett or Clowney but this is a lot like Bradley Chubb as a prospect with more twitchy athleticism. He is  a big boy with special bend and power. He reminds me a lot of Khalil Mack actually coming out of Buffalo. I love this player and he might just be the perfect pick for Miami.

8. Cincinnati Bengals: Alex Leatherwood OL, Alabama
    The Bengals have made one thing clear all season. They need SIZE. They are pathetic on the offensive life and Joe Burrow is routinely running for his life out there and even worse, The run game routinely has nowhere to go at the snap. I don’t care what player is here. The Bengals should take the biggest, baddest mauler they can find and be happy with it and it seems my partner agrees. 

9. Carolina Panthers: Creed Humphrey OL, Oklahoma
    The Panthers spent every single pick last year trying to set a foundation for their Defense. They should try to do the same here with their offense. There is nothing that is becoming increasingly important than good interior line play so drafting Creed Humphrey should help what seems to be one of the worst inside running teams in the sport. 
    

10. Atlanta Falcons: Patrick Surtain II CB, Alabama
    The Falcons would get an absolute steal here if they were able to land Patrick Surtain here. A true lock down corner I may go as far out to say he is the best CB prospect I have seen since Ramsey (I know I said that about Okudah and Henderson last year but bear with me). Suratin already projects as a true man to man breaker with top end speed and an ideal height at 6’2”. I think he is one of the safest bets in the draft and the Falcons would be lucky to get him here considering they have been trying to fix their terrible secondary since the Super Bowl.

11. Detroit Lions: Shaun Wade CB, OSU
    The Lions are a dumpster fire at the current moment. They are kinda inept at all non offensive positions. For a team that is looking for some legit talent on defense why not get Jeff Okudah his just as special college teammate. It makes sense. If I were the Lions I would take advantage of the strength of the CB class this year and get a second lockdown CB next to Okudah and build from there.

12. Minnesota Vikings: Zach Wilson QB, BYU
    Kirk Cousins contract is up and it seems to coincide quite nicely with the end of the contending era of the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikes need to look for the future and build around their surprisingly young offense. Zach Wilson is a guy I expected not to like when I turned on the tape and boy was I wrong. He has elite mobility and arm flexibility that just pop off the screen. I would say outside of Lance he might be the most natural passer on the run in this draft. I think he is a perfect QB to lead the Vikings into the next era. 

13. New England Patriots: Kyle Trask QB, Florida
    Bill Belichick is clearly ready to move into the next era of Patriots football and honestly that starts with the QB. Bill needs to get this right and normally I have a policy when it comes to drafting QBs: don’t draft one that you don’t believe will become an elite QB. It says something about this class when I have at pick 13 my fifth QB who I do believe can be a star in this league along with the previous 4. Trask is a big dude who has spectacular touch to match his clever mobility. Like Wilson he is most special outside the pocket and while his arm talent isn’t like Wilson’s (few are) he does have the ability to make almost any throw from any angle and his size allows him a nice base to shed off would-be rushers. This is the guy I am positive Bill wants to start the next era of dominant Patriots football.

14. Denver Broncos: Liam Eichenberg OT, Notre Dame
    The Broncos are so close but they need size at the tackle position. Garrett Boiles has honestly been a failure at LT and it is time for the Broncos to get their stallworth from what seems to be THE offensive line producing school of the decade. Eichenberg is a 6’6 big man who has surprisingly agile feet which should help him in the pros. I think this is a pretty simple pick. Give Drew Lock the best opportunity to succeed. They started with his weapons, now finish it on the line.

15. San Francisco 49ers: Caleb Farley CB, Va Tech
    The 49ers barely miss out on getting the future of the QB in San Francisco  (however there is a bay area QB up in Wisconsin they should check in on) so they might have to settle with fixing their broken secondary. They cannot keep running the press bail system that is going faster and faster out of style, but if they insist on sticking with the big physical corners than Farley is your man. He is tall and deceptively quick for his size who is already one of the best press corners in the country. He could be a really good player in the NFL and would fit in with what Saleh asks his corners to do in the secondary.

16. Chicago Bears: Jaylen Waddle WR, Alabama
    The Bears are starved for playmakers on offense. They need to get a dynamic playmaker who can make things happen with the ball in his hand. Waddle is a special athlete even for the wide receiver position. He is special and the only reason he is available at 16 is because of his unfortunate injury. Still I think that he is simply too much of a talent to pass on but Kremer may be right in the insistence of improving the OLine.

17. Cleveland Browns: Rashod Bateman WR, Minnesota
    The Browns are looking for a dynamic playmaker as well. They don’t have many holes elsewhere and it is clear that the Odell experiment is over in Cleveland. Get a receiver who is not only skilled at route running but is a fantastic 50/50 ball threat. He’s not Odell but you have to start somewhere.

18. Indianapolis Colts: Devonta Smith WR, Alabama
    The Colts are a team with little holes. They lack any really on the defense and are surprisingly cap friendly heading onto next season. What they could use is yet again a dynamic playmaker opposite Michael Pittman. Pittman can be the possession guy while Smith can be the deep threat and underneath guy who can help open up the offense for Phillip Rivers next season.

19. Philadelphia Eagles: Rondale Moore WR, Purdue
    The Eagles tried to get Wentz more help last year and I say they do the same thing this year. Either Regor or Moore has to work at some point but I see superstar potential in Rondale Moore. I think I would be scared to see Moore on a drag route or slant when Reagot is going deep.

20. Arizona Cardinals: Wyatt Davis IOL, OSU
    The Cardinals are an ascending team but it should be obvious to everyone that they are too reliant on Kyler Murray to do everything. Their run game needs size in the center to help free up the passing game and furthermore give some room for Drake to run. Wyatt Davis is such a high floor interior guy the Cardinals should be rushing to the podium after this pick is made.

21.Miami Dolphins: Dillon Radunz OT, North Dakota State
    The Dolphins are looking better and better every week and have a nice foundation at the skill positions on each side. However they are missing a lot of size on both lines and need to improve dramatically. Radunz is a big body and is the best bet to be a foundation piece of the guys left.

22. Jacksonville Jaguars (via LAR): Daniel Faale OT, Minnesota
    Similar to the Dolphins, the Jags need a better foundation for their new signal caller. They should draft the biggest guy available to play LT for them. I Get the feeling the Jags are gonna have to be run heavy. Cam Robinson and Jawann Taylor have not worked the way they hoped it would, so betting more size and maybe moving one of them to guard is the optimal move.

23. Las Vegas Raiders: Dylan Moses LB, Alabama
    The Raiders are an ever improving team but they are missing their captain of the defense. Gruden loves his Linebackers that can do anything and you were to ask me the highest upside guy in this draft it would be Moses. Moses is a physical freak in the same vein as Jaylon Smith and Tremaine Edmunds and if he hits he could be a superstar in the league. That is the kind of player Gruden needs on defense that is filled with decent pieces but nothing elite.

24. Tennessee Titans: Kyle Pitts TE, Florida
The Titans here get a top 10 player in this draft at a position of need. Pitts reminds me of a more polished Evan Engram where he honestly could play receiver if he wanted to. He is lean and fast with a dangerous ability to slip through zones. He should be a QBs best friend and with the state of the Titans TE being what it is, they could really use that go-to weapon in the middle.

25. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Kwity Paye EDGE, Michigan
    The Bucs are trying to win this next year and to do that they need athletes rushing the passer. JPP and Shaq are good but they could use a true pass rushing specialist and that is what Kwity Paye offers. He offers an insane upside on the Line and pass rush to make an already stout defense even better. Plus I’m sure Brady would like his Michigan Man.

26. New York Jets (via SEA): Jaylen Mayfield OT, Michigan 
    The Jets just need offensive lineman. Plain and simple. Why not get a guy who is a natural RT and is currently playing RT for your burgeoning offensive line. Putting Mayfield who is a fantastic athlete for his size opposite the monster in Becton at LT is ideal. It gives Lawrence a good base to build around moving forward.

27. Baltimore Ravens: Rashawn Slater OT, Northwestern
With this pick, I don’t expect Slater to play Tackle. I expect him to move to Guard and move into the old Marshall Yanda role that is vacant. The Ravens are obviously a different team than they were last year without him and getting a skilled guy with the kind of power he possesses and this could be a scary line for the years to come. 

28. Buffalo Bills: Jay Tufele DT, USC
    The Bills need side up front. Point, blank, period. The Bills are too reliant on Hyde and white to carry the load on defense that teams elect to gash their terrible run defense. Tufele is a big motherfucker who can eat up gaps for the Bills. Easy pick here

29. Green Bay Packers: Sage Surrett WR, Wake Forest
    The packers finally get their first round WR.  They get a decent compliment to Adams’s big play ability in Surrett who can handle a Michael Thomas like skillset. He is a big possession receiver who has deceptively great speed to make the big play when needed. If the PAckers are trying to win a Super Bowl in the Rodgers window than they need to give him this opportunity to succeed. 

30. Kansas City Chiefs: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah LB, Notre Dame
    The Chiefs are hitting the point where they need to start plugging up holes and the biggest on their team currently is LB. They are thin and have routinely been over reliant on blitzing to stop the run so having a true do everything MLB like JOK is gonna be great for the Chiefs. 

31. New Orleans Saints: Jaycee Horn CB, South Carolina
    The Saints need secondary help opposite Lattimore to really compete. They are too often getting into shootouts that they can’t win with the way they play football. They need to get their opposing offenses off the field because most of the time they are gonna be passing because of the pace the Saints play. 

32. Pittsburgh Steelers: Travis Etienne RB, Clemson
    The Steelers are so close to a Super Bowl. At this point in the draft all the QBs and CBs I would wanna take are gone so I got creative. I think the Steelers should pick the best player available at a position of need that isn’t talked about. Travis Ettienne is a fantastic speedster who can break free at any moment for a big score. Not only that but he absorbs contact very well for his play style and I think he could be the real Le'veon replacement and if not, he is a great compliment to what James Conner does. 



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By: Alex Drain

After a long hibernation period, the NFL is officially back. Fans of teams from across America will finally have our beloved national religion (move over, Jesus) on the gridiron again, a desperately needed event to distract us from a pandemic, raging wildfires, and a rapidly approaching presidential election. Unfortunately, if you’re a Detroit Lions fan like I, your life has been filled with moments where being subjected to the horrors of real life has seemed preferable to watching another NFL game. Still, we turn on the TV every Sunday and I will be eager to do the same this Sunday when the Lions take the field against the Bears. Two years ago I wrote a preview of the Lions’ season for this website and was quite pessimistic, something that was confirmed by their subsequent 6-10 record. Last year I had a preview written but chose not to publish it- perhaps a good idea because I (obviously) did not see the team winning just three games. At least you can chalk that up to injuries. 

Now with the 2020 season just two days away, I present to you yet another preview of the Detroit Lions, this time their 2020 iteration. This article will go through a series of points about where I'm optimistic and where I'm pessimistic, starting with...

What I feel good about: The Passing Game
Last season the Lions’ offense was completely rejuvenated under the play calling of Darrell Bevell, and Matthew Stafford was playing the best football of his career until his injury. It goes without saying that if the Lions can’t get Stafford healthy, they have a 0% chance of going anywhere in the NFL this season. We saw that in the final eight games of last year (No, Chase Daniel is not fixing the team in the event of another Stafford injury). But after having a full offseason to heal, reports out of training camp are about as positive as they could be for Stafford’s health and if he is in the lineup, I feel extremely confident about the effectiveness of this passing offense. In the first eight games last year, the Lions were averaging 295 passing yards per game, which across a full season would’ve ranked third best in the NFL. Bevell’s play-calling was the sharpest I’ve ever seen from a Lions OC in my lifetime (not exactly a high bar, though) and Detroit weaponized play-action to lethal success. 

Reports out of camp are also positive about receiving corps: rookie WR Quintez Cephus has been the standout of camp, CB-turned-WR Jamal Agnew appears to be an interesting speedy weapon, and WR Marvin Hall is still around and should be good to make his one 35 yard catch per game. The Lions appear likely to carry 6 WR’s onto the roster and that’s because it’s a position of strength, not weakness. On top of those three, you have old faithful Danny Amendola, the slightly underrated Marvin Jones, and Kenny Golladay. Though Golladay doesn’t have a sexy name like a Mike Evans, he’s proved to be highly effective and gives the Lions a legit #1 threat. And on top of all of this you have tight end TJ Hockenson, who you hope makes the sophomore leap that most second year TE’s make. If he breaks out and becomes a 600ish yard guy, that’s another weapon. Oh and the Lions drafted DeAndre Swift in the early second round, who should play a big role as a receiving back. With a healthy Stafford, there’s a legit chance this passing game could make a run at the league’s best this year.


What I don’t feel good about: the running game










This meme I made sums up the last decade of being a Lions fan. Every year we hear that “this is the year the running game gets going” and every year it doesn’t happen. We were told that after Jahvid Best was drafted, after Reggie Bush was signed, after Ameer Abdullah was drafted, after the Lions signed TJ Lang and Rick Wagner, after Kerryon Johnson and Frank Ragnow were drafted, and again after TJ Hockenson was drafted last year. I’m not particularly down on the Lions running game, at least compared to previous years. It’s just I will not feel “good” about the running game until it actually happens. I have learned my lesson Lucy, I will NOT try and kick that football this year unless it’s on a goddamn tee and out of your grimy hands. I don't care about Swift being drafted or the signing/drafting of apparent maulers Halapoulivaati Vaitai and Jonah Jackson. The talent is there on paper but I. Will. Not. Be. Fooled. Again. 

What I feel good about: Offseason defensive pickups
The Lions didn’t have an offseason that got lots of chatter in the NFL circles and it makes sense. They didn’t sign the literal GOAT QB, or trade for a marquee WR for pennies on the dollar, and they didn’t hand out a monster deal to a top free agent like last season. But they made a handful of moves to beef up the defense that I think could have a big impact. We’ve parodied the way the Lions have tried to turn themselves into New England But In Michigan by signing guys they probably shouldn’t, but snaring Danny Shelton, Jamie Collins, and Duron Harmon were all good moves. Collins brings a steady veteran presence to a position that badly needed it (LB), Duron Harmon is  one of the more underrated safeties in the league, actually ranking in the top 25 of NFL safeties in PFF’s recent rankings, and Danny Shelton gives Detroit a probable starter at DT. On top of that, the Lions reeled in Desmond Trufant to replace Darius Slay at corner, which given their performances a year ago, is arguably an upgrade. These pieces are not high money or long-term deals but seem like they were intelligent uses of cap space to plug holes that were quite wide open a year ago. 

What I don’t feel good about: So uh… who’s playing DT?
By far the weakest spot on Detroit’s roster seems to be defensive tackle, where they are carrying the following players into week 1: Danny Shelton, Nick Williams, and John Penisini, with Da’Shawn Hand playing both inside and out on the line. Williams and Shelton were good signings who should be serviceable starters, as noted in the previous section, but beyond that this depth chart gets very grim. John Penisini was a 7th round draft pick in the spring, profiling as a space eater nose tackle. If Williams and Shelton can play a full 16 games, the Lions may be fine, but this is football. That’s probably not going to happen and if we actually have to see Penisini (and other guys from the practice squad) play a lot, it won’t be good for the Lions. And boy, if Penisini gets hurt, then you, the reader, might as well strap on your pads and head to Allen Park and suit up at defensive tackle because I’ve got nothin’ on who would play that spot. On the bright side, Da’Shawn Hand gives the Lions a chance for an impact player along the interior of the line, as he’s been very good when completely healthy. But through two years Hand being completely healthy has been something of a fleeting glimpse than something we can have any real faith in. 

What I feel good about: the secondary?
Detroit’s secondary was an utter catastrophe last season, ranking last in the NFL in passing yards against. They gave no real resistance to some of the best passing offenses they faced and the unit needed a complete overhaul in the offseason, something they mostly got. Trading Slay and signing Trufant was the first move, which I previously noted is probably an upgrade because Slay was quite bad last year. It was the worst season I’d seen him play since his rookie year in 2013, and while he could very well bounce back with Philly this year, it’s not like losing Slay means all that much given how poorly he played a year ago. Meanwhile, Trufant is a reliable, steady veteran. Though you’d ideally like a better #1 corner than him, you can also have a lot worse. As of this moment, the #2 corner would seem to be Amani Oruwariye, which is partly a function of Jeff Okudah’s inexperience, but also of Oruwariye’s growth. A 2019 draft pick who slid from the projected second round to the Lions in the fifth, Oruwariye looked much the part of a projected second rounder last season, one of the only bright spots in the secondary when he actually got to play.

Reports from training camp are quite positive about Oruwariye and I honestly don’t feel bad about him as the starting #2. Okudah will be a dude, and maybe this season, but it probably won’t happen right away. Okudah’s been greatly hurt by the fact the team didn’t practice all spring/summer and played no preseason games due to COVID. Ideally he should be a major contributor by midseason. At safety, I’m looking for Tracy Walker to make another jump after maturing into a quality starter last year, and I already mentioned the Harmon pickup, meanwhile second year player Will Harris needs to show some improvement. As a whole, I don’t think this group is the second coming of the Legion of Boom, but I am surprisingly okay with the secondary entering the season. Furthermore, I think they should be the strength of the 2020 defense. Even though that makes me incredibly nauseous to say, because calling the Lions’ secondary a strength just one year after the 2019 season feels like calling the city of Pripyat, Ukraine, a bastion of environmental health just one year after the Chernobyl meltdown. 

What I don’t feel good about: the coaching staff
On paper, this is a team that should have a shot to make a run. They’ve got what could be a lethal offense, they brought in a fair bit of talent to shore up the defense, and have a very good QB. But the cloud hanging over all of this is the utter lack of faith that I, and everyone in the football world, have in Matt Patricia and his staff. I’m not including Darrell Bevell in this, since he runs the offense on his own and I’ve already buttered him up with praise. But as for the defense and the team overall, this coaching staff has given us nothing to be optimistic about. It started with a catastrophe of a Monday Night Football debut back in 2018, where the Lions self-immolated on national TV and Matt Patricia looked on with a bewildered and hapless face. Then we heard complaints from veteran players about the toxic culture, and complete lack of respect from other coaches. Patricia has been uncompromising, stubborn, unlikable, and flatly, unsuccessful as a Lions head coach. The team made some necessary coaching moves in the offseason, firing struggling OL coach Jeff Davidson, and replacing 90 year-old defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni with Cory Undlin. I want to believe in these moves, but I’ve been given not an ounce of reason to believe from the past two years, and I won’t until the results give me reason to. 

What I feel good about: the winnability of the NFC North
As it stands right now, the Lions are the only team in the division that I think got demonstrably better in the offseason. Minnesota ran into cap hell and had to jettison their entire CB group, as well as Linval Joseph, Stefon, Diggs, and Everson Griffen, though they have restocked some of those areas with top draft picks, as well as excellent pass rusher Yannick Ngakoue. Minnesota still has great players across the roster, but there’s considerable uncertainty with the Vikings and it’s hard not to think there won’t be at least a small step back from them this year. Green Bay had a puzzling offseason where they spent their most valuable asset to pick a guy who probably won’t play this season (Jordan Love). The Packers didn’t make many moves at all and roll mostly the same team into the season, a team that I thought (and the Pythagorean theorem backs up) was supremely overrated. They were, according to expected W/L, more like a 10-6 team than a 13-3 one and I concur with that judgement. The Bears also didn’t make any real moves, losing a couple parts off the defense and bringing in Nick Foles, although Mitch Trubisky is the starter heading into week one. So long as Trubisky is the starter, it’s hard to feel like Chicago has a real shot to be a superpower. All told, I think nine wins could win the division, though you may want ten to be safe. For the record, Football Outsiders’ DVOA projections for the season see all four teams around 8-8 and that doesn’t feel that far off at this time. 

Concluding thoughts
The 2020 Lions season feels like a true crossroads for the future of the franchise. The current GM, coach, and QB are all on the line this year because if things fall apart again and the team finishes 4-12, I think the whole management group has to be fired and it’s time to draft one of Fields, Lance, or Lawrence in April and start over. But if the team makes a run, maybe Detroit keeps Stafford around and tries to build around him the way the Saints have with an aging Brees. Unfortunately it’s hard not to feel like 7-9/8-8 is the most logical prediction. That’s what the team probably was last season, had Stafford played a full 16 games, and while they’ve added a lot of pieces compared to that, the coaching staff remains the gargantuan question mark over all of this. 

A path for the Lions to make the playoffs probably runs through a monster offense and a passable defense. With the amount of firepower the offense has, as we stated previously, a top five finish is very much on the table. When you have that kind of unit on one side of the ball, you don’t need that much from the other side of the ball to be a playoff team. But you do need something and they didn’t have that last year defensively. The Lions need a defense that can get some stops. Not many, but some. If the defense can just hold opponents to 24 or so points per game against, while the offense surges to up 28 or so points per game for, over a sixteen game season that would translate out to a +64 point differential, which is indicative of a 10-6 team, roughly speaking. That should be enough to win the division. 

So Detroit doesn’t need the defense to be incredible, but just to get enough stops to let the offense do the work. And still I’m rather unsteady about whether that can happen or not, simply because of how poor the defense has been in the past two seasons. The other factor to discuss is the schedule, which is extremely front-loaded. The Lions will face Chicago at home week 1, which is a must-win. After that it’s @Packers, @Cardinals, and home against the Saints. Detroit will need to win at least one of those. Following another early bye week, it’s @Jags, @Falcons, Colts, @Vikings. That’s a tough first eight games, where again, just beating Jacksonville and scratching one win out is the goal. Get to 4-4, and then beat Washington and @Carolina to be 6-4. From there, finishing 4-2 down the stretch against Houston, @Chicago, Packers, @Titans, Bucs, and Vikings gets you to ten wins. It’s not easy, but that’s the path to 10-6. 

Unfortunately, that kind of schedule presents the possibility that a few things don’t go your way early on and then all of a sudden you’re 1-3 or 0-4 and then there presents the risk of the team giving up and quitting. The NFL is a league of supreme parity, where almost every week is going to a battle and just a couple breaks can flip your season. The Lions saw that first hand last year on a haunted Monday night in Green Bay. Which is why it’s perhaps most reasonable to expect roughly 8-8, but beware: due to both the talent level of the team, as well as the possibility of the coaching staff or frustration with it tanking the season, the tails of probability in either direction, are pretty fat.

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By: Andrew Miller, Resident NFL Draft Expert
Round 1

1. Cincinnati Bengals- Joe Burrow QB, LSU: A+
2. Washington Redskins- Chase Young EDGE, OSU: A+
3. Detroit Lions- Jeff Okudah CB, OSU: A
4. New York Giants- Andrew Thomas OT, Georgia: B-
5. Miami Dolphins- Tua Tagovailoa QB, Alabama: B
6. Los Angeles Chargers- Justin Herbert QB, Oregon: A
7. Carolina Panthers- Derrick Brown DT, Auburn: A+
8. Arizona Cardinals- Isaiah Simmons LB, Clemson: A-
9. Jacksonville Jaguars- CJ Henderson CB, Florida: A+
10. Cleveland Browns- Jedrick Wills Jr. OT, Alabama: A
11. New York Jets- Mekhi Becton OT, Louisville A
12. Las Vegas Raiders- Henry Ruggs III WR, Alabama: A
13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Tristan Wirfs OL, Iowa: A
14. San Francisco 49ers- Javon Kinlaw DL, South Carolina: A-
15. Denver Broncos- Jerry Jeudy WR, Alabama: A+
16. Atlanta Falcons- AJ Terrell CB, Clemson: B+
17. Dallas Cowboys- Ceedee Lamb WR, Oklahoma: B+
18. Miami Dolphins- Austin Jackson OT, USC: B
19. Las Vegas Raiders- Damon Arnette CB, OSU: D
20. Jacksonville Jaguars: K’Lavon Chaisson EDGE, LSU: A+
21. Philadelphia Eagles- Jalen Reagor WR, TCU: D+
22. Minnesota Vikings- Justin Jefferson WR, LSU: A
23. Los Angeles Chargers- Kenneth Murray LB, Oklahoma: A+
24. New Orleans Saints: Cesar Ruiz IOL, Michigan: A-
25. San Francisco 49ers- Brandon Aiyuk WR, USC: B
26. Green Bay Packers: Jordan Love QB, Utah State: C-
27. Seattle Seahawks- Jordyn Brooks LB, Texas Tech: C+
28. Baltimore Ravens- Patrick Queen LB, LSU: A+
29. Tennessee Titans- Isaiah Wilson OT, Georgia: A
30. Miami Dolphins- Noah Igbinoghene CB, Auburn: C+
31. Minnesota Vikings- Jeff Gladney CB, TCU: B-
32. Kansas City Chiefs- Clyde Edwards-Helaire RB, LSU: B+
    Round 2
    
    
33. Cincinnati Bengals- Tee Higgins WR, Clemson: B
34. Indianapolis Colts- Michael Pittman Jr. WR, USC: A-
35. Detroit Lions: D’Andre Swift RB, Georgia: B-
36. New York Giants- Xavier McKinney S, Alabama: A
37. New England Patriots- Kyle Dugger S, Lenoir-Rhyne: A
38. Carolina Panthers- Yetur Gross-Matos EDGE, PSU: A-
39. Miami Dolphins- Robert Hunt G, Louisiana, A
40. Houston Texans- Ross Blacklock DT, TCU: B+
41. Indianapolis Colts- Jonathan Taylor RB, Wisconsin: A+
42. Jacksonville Jaguars- Laviska Shenault WR, Colorado: B
43. Chicago Bears- Cole Kmet TE: Notre Dame: A-
44. Cleveland Browns- Grant Delpit S, LSU: B+
45. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Antoine Winfield S, Minnesota: A+
46. Denver Broncos- KJ Hamler WR, PSU: A
47. Atlanta Falcons- Marlon Davidson DL, Auburn: B-
48. Seattle Seahawks- Darrell Taylor EDGE, Tennessee: C+
49. Pittsburgh Steelers- Chase Claypool WR, Notre Dame: A
50. Chicago Bears- Jaylon Johnson CB, Utah: A-
51. Dallas Cowboys- Trevon Diggs CB, Alabama: A-
52. Los Angeles Rams- Cam Akers RB, FSU: D
53. Philadelphia Eagles- Jalen Hurts QB, Oklahoma: D-
54. Buffalo Bills: AJ Epenesa EDGE, Iowa: A+
55. Baltimore Ravens- JK Dobbins RB, OSU: A
56. Miami Dolphins- Raekwon Davis DT, Alabama: A
57. Los Angeles Rams- Van Jefferson WR, Florida: C
58. Minnesota Vikings- Ezra Cleveland OT, Boise State: C+
59. New York Jets- Denzel Mims WR, Baylor: B
60. New England Patriots- Josh Uche EDGE. Michigan: A
61. Tennessee Titans- Kristian Fulton CB, LSU: A
62. Green Bay Packers- AJ Dillon RB, Boston College: F
63. Kansas City Chiefs- Willie Gay LB, Miss St: B+
64. Carolina Panthers- Jeremey Chinn S, Southern Illinois: A
    Round 3
    
    
65. Cincinnati Bengals- Logan Wilson LB, Wyoming: A-
66. Washington Redskins- Antonio Gibson RB, Memphis:C+
67. Detroit Lions- Julian Okwara EDGE, Notre Dame: A-
68. New York Jets- Ashtyn Davis S, Cal: A
69. Seattle Seahawks- Damien Lewis G, LSU: B-
70. Miami Dolphins- Brandon Jones S, Texas: C-
71. Baltimore Ravens- Justin Madubuike DT, Texas A&M: A+
72. Arizona Cardinals- Josh Jones OT, Houston: A
73. Jacksonville Jaguars- Davon Hamilton DT, OSU: B-
74. New Orleans Saints- Zack Baun LB, Wisconsin: A+
75. Detroit Lions- Jonah Jackson G, OSU: B+
76. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Ke’Shawn Vaughn RB, Vanderbilt: B-
77. Denver Broncos- Michael Ojemudia CB, Iowa: A-
78. Atlanta Falcons- Matt Hennessy C, Temple: A
79. New York Jets- Jabari Zuniga EDGE, Florida: B-
80. Las Vegas Raiders- Lynn Bowden WR, Kentucky: A
81. Las Vegas Raiders- Bryan Edwards WR, South Carolina: C+
82. Dallas Cowboys- Neville Gallimore DT, Oklahoma: A+
83. Denver Broncos- Lloyd Cushenberry IOL, LSU: A+
84. Los Angeles Rams- Terrell Lewis EDGE, Alabama: B-
85. Indianapolis Colts- Julian Blackmon S, Utah: A-
86. Buffalo Bills- Zack Moss RB, Utah: A-
87. New England Patriots- Anfernee Jennings LB, Alabama: B
88. Cleveland Browns- Jordan Elliott DL, Mizzou: A+
89. Minnesota Vikings- Cam Danztler CB, Miss St: B
90. Houston Texans- Jonathan Greenard EDGE: Florida: B+
91. New England Patriots- Devin Asiasi TE, UCLA: A
92. Baltimore Ravens- Devin Duvernay WR, Texas: A
93. Tennessee Titans- Darrynton Evan RB, Appalachian State: B-
94. Green Bay Packers- Josiah Deguara TE: Cincinnati: D
95. Denver Broncos- McTelvin Agim DT, Arkansas: B-
96. Kansas City Chiefs- Lucas Niang OT, TCU: A
97.  Cleveland Browns- Jacob Phillips LB, LSU: B
98.  Baltimore Ravens- Malik Harrison LB, OSU: A+
99. New York Giants- Matt Peart OT, Uconn: A
100. Las Vegas Raiders- Tanner Muse LB, Clemson: C
101. New England Patriots- Dalton Keene TE, Va Tech: C
102. Pittsburgh Steelers- Alex Highsmith EDGE: Charlotte: B
103. Philadelphia Eagles- Davion Taylor LB, Colorado: A-
104. LA Rams- Terrell Burgess S, Utah: C+
105. New Orleans Saints- Adam Trautman TE: Dayton: A
106. Baltimore Ravens-  Tyre Phillips G, Miss St: A-
     Round 4
     
     
107. Cincinnati Bengals- Akeem Davis-Gaither LB: Appalachian State: B+
108. Washington Redskins- Saadiq Charles OT, LSU: A
109. Las Vegas Raiders- John Simpson G, Clemson: A+
110. New york Giants- Darnay Holmes CB, UCLA: B
111. Miami Dolphins- Solomon Kindley G, Georgia: A-
112.  Los Angeles Chargers-Joshua Kelley RB, UCLA: C
113. Carolina Panthers- Troy Pride Jr. CB, Notre Dame: A
114. Arizona Cardinals- Leki Fotu DT, Utah: A+
115. Cleveland Browns- Harrison Bryant TE, FAU: C
116. Jacksonville Jaguars- Ben Batrch OL, St. John’s: A+
117. Minnesota Vikings- DJ Wonnum EDGE, South Carolina: B+
118. Denver Broncos- Albert Okwuegbunam TE, Mizzou: A+
119. Atlanta Falcons- Mykal Walker LB, Fresno State: B
120. New York Jets- LaMical Perine RB, Florida: C+
121. Detroit Lions- Logan Stenberg G, Kentucky: A-
122. Indianapolis Colts- Jacob Eason QB, Washington: A
123. Dallas Cowboys- Reggie Robinson CB, Tulsa: B-
124. Pittsburgh Steelers- Anthony McFarland RB, Maryland: A-
125. New York Jets- James Morgan QB, FIU, B
126. Houston Texans- Charlie Heck OT, North Carolina: B
127.  Philadelphia Eagles- K’Von Wallace S, Clemson: B
128. Buffalo Bills- Gabriel Davis WR, UCF: A
129. New York Jets- Cameron Clark OT, Charlotte: B
130. Minnesota Vikings- James Lynch DT, Baylor: A
131. Arizona Cardinals- Rashard Lawrence DT, LSU: B+
132. Minnesota Vikings- Troy Dye LB, Oregon: A+
133. Seattle Seahawks- Colby Parkinson TE, Stanford: B
134. Atlanta Falcons- Jaylin Hawkins S, Cal: D-
135. Pittsburgh Steelers- Kevin Dotson G, Louisiana: A
136. Los Angeles Chargers- Brycen Hopkins TE, Purdue: B-
137. Jacksonville Jaguars- Josiah Scott CB, MSU: B-
138. Kansas City Chiefs- LaJarius Sneed S, Luisiana Tech: C-
139. Las Vegas Raiders- Amik Robertson CB, Louisiana Tech: A+ 
140. Jacksonville Jaguars- Shaquille Quarterman LB, Miami: B
141. Houston Texans- John Reed CB, PSU:C-
142. Washington Redskins- Antonio Gandy-Golden WR, Liberty: A
143. Baltimore Ravens- Ben Bredeson G, Michigan: A
144. Seattle Seahawks- Deejay Dallas RB, Miami: C
145. Philadelphia Eagles- Jack Driscoll G, Auburn: B
146. Dallas Cowboys- Tyler Biadasz C, Wisconsin: A+
     Round 5
147. Cincinnati Bengals- Khalid Kareem EDGE, Notre Dame: A
148. Seattle Seahawks: Alton Robinson EDGE, Syracuse: B
149. Indianapolis Colts- Danny Pinter G, Ball State: C+
150. New York Giants- Shane Lemeuix G, Oregon: A
151. Los Angeles Chargers- Joe Reed WR, Virginia: B-
152. Carolina Panthers- Kenny Robinson S, XFL: A
153. San Francisco 49ers- Colton McKevitz OT, WVU: B
154. Miami Dolphins: Jason Strawbridge DL, North Carolina: B+
155. Chicago Bears- Trevis Gipson LB, Tulsa: C+
156. Washington Redskins- Keith ishmael C: SDSU: C+
157. Jacksonville Jaguars- Daniel Thomas S: Auburn: C-
158. New York Jets- Bryce Hall CB, Virgina: A
159. New England Patriots: Justin Rohrwasser K: Marshall: B
160.  Cleveland Browns- Nick Harris IOL:  Washington: A
161. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Tyler Johnson WR: Minnesota: B+
162. Washington Redskins- Khaleke Hudson S: Michigan: B+
163. Chicago Bears- Kindle Vildor CB: Georgia Southern:C+
164. Miami Dolphins- Curtis Weaver EDGE, Boise State: A
165. Jacksonville Jaguars- Collin Johnson WR, Texas: C-
166. Detroit Lions- Quentez Cephus WR, Wisconsin: B+
167. Buffalo Bills- Jake Fromm QB, Georgia: A
168. Philadelphia Eagles- John Hightower WR, Boise State: D
169. Minnesota Vikings- Harrison Hand CB, Temple: A
170. Baltimore Ravens- Broderick Washington DL, Texas Tech: B-
171. Houston Texans- Isaiah Coulter WR, Rhode Island: C+
172. Detroit Lions- Jason Huntley RB, New Mexico State: F
173. Chicago Bears- Darnell Mooney WR, Tulane: C
174. Tennessee Titans- Larrell Murchison DL, NC State: A
175. Green Bay Packers- Kamal Martin LB, Minnesota, B
176. Minnesota Vikings- KJ Osborn WR, Miami: C-
177. Kansas City Chiefs- Mike Danna EDGE, Michigan- C+
178. Denver Broncos- Justin Strnad LB, Wake Forest: B+
179. Dallas Cowboys- Bradlee Anae EDGE, Utah: A

Round 6
180. Cincinnati Bengals-Hakeem Adeniji OT, Kansas: A
181. Denver Broncos- Netane Muti IOL, Fresno State: A
182. New England Patriots- Michael Onwenu IOL, Michigan: A
183. New York Giants- Cameron Brown LB, PSU- B-
184. Carolina Panthers- Bravvion Roy DL, Baylor: A
185. Miami Dolphins- Blake Ferguson LS, LSU: S for Snapper
186. Los Angeles Chargers- Aholi Gilman S, Notre Dame: A-
187. Cleveland Browns- Donovan Peoples-Jones WR, Michigan: A+
188. Buffalo Bills- Tyler Bass K, Georgia Southern: A
189. Jacksonville Jaguars- Jake Lutton QB, Oregon State: B
190. San Francisco 49ers- Charlie Woerner TE, Georgia: B-
191. New York Jets- Braden Man P, Texas A&M: A
192. Green Bay Packers- Jon Runyan Jr. G, Michigan: B+
193. Indianapolis Colts- Robert Windsor DT, PSU: B-
194. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Khalil Davis DT, Nebraska: A-
195. New England Patriots- Justin Herron OT, Wake Forest: B+
196. Philadelphia Eagles- Shaun Bradley LB, Temple: C
197. Detroit Lions- John Penisinsi DT, Utah: B
198. Pittsburgh Steelers- Antoine Brooks S, Maryland: C+
199. LA Rams- Jordan Fuller S, OSU: D
200. Philadelphia Eagles- Quez Watkins WR, Southern Miss: F
201. Baltimore Ravens- James Proche WR, SMU: A
202. Arizona Cardinals- Evan Weaver LB, Cal: A-
203. Minnesota Vikings- Blake Brandel OT, Oregon State: B-
204. New England Patriots- Cash Maula LB, Wyoming: D
205. Minnesota Vikings- Josh Metellus S, Michigan: B
206. Jacksonville Jaguars- Tyler Davis TE, Georgia Tech: B
207. Buffalo Bills- Isaiah Hodges WR, Oregon State: C+
208. Green Bay Packers- Jake Hanson C, Oregon: A
209. Green Bay Packers- Brian Stepaniak G, Indiana: C+
210. Philadelphia Eagles- Prince Tega Wanogho OT, Auburn: A
211. Indianapolis Colts- Isaiah Rodgers CB, UMass: B
212. Indianapolis Colts- Dezmon Patmon WR, Washington State: C
213. Indianapolis Colts- Jordan Glasgow S, Michigan: A
214.Seattle Seahawks- Freddie Swain WR, Florida: B
Round 7

215. Cincinnati Bengals- Marcus Bailey LB, Purdue: A+
216. Washington Redskins- Kameron Curl S, Arkansas: C-
217. San Francisco 49ers- Juauan Jennings WR, Tennessee: A
218. New York Giants- Carter Coughlin EDGE, Minnesota: A-
219. Baltimore Ravens- Geno Stone S, Iowa: A
220. Los Angeles Chargers- KJ Hill WR, OSU: A-
221. Carolina Panthers- Stanley Thomas-Oliver CB, FIU: B-
222. Arizona Cardinals- Eno Benjamin RB, ASU: A-
222.Jacksonville Jaguars- Chris Claybrooks CB, Memphis: B-
224. Tennessee Titans- Cole McDonald QB, Hawaii: A-
225. Minnesota Vikings- Kenny Willekes EDGE, MSU: A
226. Chicago Bears- Arlington Hambright G, Colorado: A
227. Chicago Bears- Lachavious Simmons OT: Tennessee St: B
228.  Atlanta Falcons- Sterling Hofrichter P, Syracuse: A 
229.Washington Redskins- James Smith-Williams EDGE, NC State: B+
230.  New England Patriots- Dustin Woodard IOL, Memphis: B+
231. Dallas Cowboys- Ben DiNucci QB, James Madison: C
232. Pittsburgh Steelers- Carlos Davis DT, Nebraska: A
233. Philadelphia Eagles- Casey Toohil LB, Stanford: B+
234. Los Angeles Rams: Clay Johnston LB, Baylor: A
235. Detroit Lions- Jashon Cornell DT, OSU: B
236. Green Bay Packers- Vernon Scott, S: TCU: B
237. Kansas City Chiefs- Thakarius Keyes CB, Tulane: B-
238.  New York Giants- TJ Brunson LB, South Carolina: A
239. Buffalo Bills- Dane Jackson CB, Pitt: A
240. New Orleans Saints- Tommy Stevens QB, MIss St: B+
241. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Chapelle Russell LB, Temple: C
242. Green Bay Packers- Jonathan Garvin EDGE, Miami: A
243. Tennessee Titans- Chris Jackson CB, Marshall: C+
244. Minnesota Vikings: Nate Stanley QB, Iowa: A-
245. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Raymond Calais RB, Louisiana: D
246. Miami Dolphins- Malcolm Perry RB, Navy: A
247. New York Giants- Chris Williamson CB, Minnesota: A-
248. Los Angeles Rams- Sam Sloman K: Miami (OH), F (or an A)
249. Minnesota Vikings- Brian Cole S, Miss St: A
250. Los Angeles Rams- Tremayne Anchrum G, Clemson: A-
251. Seattle Seahawks- Stephen Sullivan TE, LSU: D
252. Denver Broncos- Tyrie Cleveland WR, Florida: A
253. Minnesota Vikings- Kyle Hinton C, Washborn: B
254. Denver Broncos- Derek Tuszka EDGE, NDSU: A
255. New York Giants- Tae Crowder LB, Georgia: B

NFC EAST

​Philadelphia Eagles

Round 1 No 21 ovr. Jalen Reagor WR, TCU: D+
The Eagles needed to draft a wide receiver, but I don’t know about Reagor’s value here and especially to the Eagles. The Eagles have a guy that already has his role. Reagor compares almost exactly to Desean Jackson so that’s redundant, plus Justin Jefferson who fits a perfect need for what the Eagles do on offense was there. Instead they opt for a receiver who they like. I like Regor but at 21 with who was on the board was just odd.

Round 2 No 53 ovr. Jalen Hurts QB, Oklahoma: D-
I like Jalen Hurts, but he was not the top QB on my board. Oh and they have a young entrenched starter in Carson Wentz. I get he’s injured, but I would recommend taking a QB in the fourth who is ready to step in for him. A QB in the second is supposed to be a future franchise QB. I cannot believe this pick. The Eagles should be gearing up for a Super Bowl run not looking to move on from the former MVP candidate. The D- is just because I like the player, but I cannot believe what the Eagles are doing.

Round 3 No 103 ovr. Davion Taylor LB, Colorado: A-
    I personally love this player. Dabion Taylor is a guy I thought was being underrated. He is quick and good in coverage, but I thought he was an underrated tackler as well. He will fit right in the Nigel Bradham role that is now vacated. The only reason there is a minus is because, while he does fill a need, there may have been better LBs on the board and the Eagles could have potentially gotten him much later. Still at least this pick makes sense to me.

Round 4 No 127 ovr. K’Von Wallace S, Clemson: B
K’Von Wallace is a solid pickup for the Eagles. I think that this issue should have been addressed earlier but Wallace can step into the role right away that Malcolm Jenkins left behind. He may not be able to be as good as Jenkins was, but I think there is little chance he is a bust at this spot.

Round 4 No 146 ovr. Jack Driscoll G, Auburn: B
I can never get mad at a team for drafting OLine help. Jack Dricoll is a solid power Lineman who excels at pulling. I think that he will succeed at his move inside when going to the Eagles. He will be benefiting from an excellent OLine so he will at worst be a solid backup and at best be a surprise really good starter with limited responsibilities. 
    
Round 5 No 168 ovr. John Hightower WR, Boise State: D
Odd that the Eagles would pick a second receiver at their last pick of real substance in the draft. On top of that the receiver they got is simply okay and not entirely traits-y. I don’t know but the Eagles have a bunch of John Hightowers on their roster including one that they drafted in the second round last year (Arcega-Whiteside). I feel like they shoulda gone for more of a freak at the position and try to get more height. If Alshon is truly gone, their only Red Zone threat is their TEs and that may not be enough.
    
Round 6 No 196 ovr. Shaun Bradley LB, Temple: C
More of a thumper and tackler than Taylor was before. The Eagles are pretty thin at LB but I can’t shake the feeling that Bradley wasn’t a great selection. I would have him in the late round 5 early round 6 conversation so here it is apt value but I think that the Eagles should address other issues than double dipping at WR and LB.

Round 6 No 200 ovr. Quez Watkins WR, Southern Miss: F
 I have not watched a lot of Southern Miss tape, I am going to be honest. However, I am going to reiterate my point that the Eagles should have addressed their other concerns before once again returning to the WR well. Normally you are drafting guys with traits this late, so presumably Watkins must have those. I think that a third WR is a little much for this team I’m afraid. The F ended up being for the draft strategy than for the player.

Round 6 No 210 ovr. Prince Tega Wanogho OT, Auburn: A
This is a slam dunk pick that fell into the Eagles lap. The tackle from Nigeria has been mocked as high as the end of the 2nd, and I had a 3rd round grade on him, so getting him here is exceptional value. Wanogho can occupy the swing tackle role that Halapoulivaati Vaitai commanded. Getting both Auburn tackles was the best move these Eagles made all draft.

Round 7 No ovr. 233 Casey Toohil LB, Stanford: B+
Good pick late. They may be triple dipping in the LB position, but scouts rave about Toohil’s intangibles and effort on defense. I think this guy will be a great gunner on Special Teams.

GRADE: C-
The Eagles draft is really confusing. I don't really understand what they are going for here. Howie Roseman has been one of the NFL's best GMs but his first two picks are just odd. Reagor was a major reach and I have no clue what they are doing with their second pick. Howie Roseman says they are married to Wentz and I kinda believe him. I don't know what the plan is but I assume they have one. They make up for a bad class with decent O Line picks later, but if anyone is looking at the Eagles line, that is not the biggest area of need.

NFC NORTH 

NFC SOUTH

NFC WEST

San Francisco 49ers

Round 1 No 14 ovr. Javon Kinlaw DL: South Carolina: A-
The value here is an A+. Kinlaw is a top 5-7 player in this class. He is big and powerful and borderline unblockable at the Defensive Tackle position. Sound familiar? Essentially they traded Deforest Buckner for a pay cut at the position. I think he will have literally the exact same role as Buckner did.

Round 1 No 25 ovr. Brandon Aiyuk WR, USC: B
Kyle Shannahan got a guy who is exactly in the mold of what he wants. A taller guy with great hands who is great in the open space that Kyle can draw up. I don't thin I could have picked a better WR for them. I think he was at least 3-4 WRs down on my board but in the case of the 49ers and this deep class: get who you want. 

Round 5 No 153 ovr. Colton McKevitz OT, WVU: B
Get some offensive line depth. I love it. The draft for the 49ers was all about the early picks so I get trying to get a backup here for Trent Williams and Mike McGlinchey. 

Round 6 No 190 ovr. Charlie Woerner TE, Georgia: B-
Nothing that physically that really excites me but I trust the 49ers in their asessment of TEs. 

Round 7 No 190 Juauan Jennings WR, Tennessee: A
The 49ers here get their value pick. They get a player who I thought is very similar to Aiyuk as a player. A good jump ball getter with really good physical traits for his size. Woulda liked any semblance of consistency, but I see what Kyle likes in him

​GRADE: B
The Niners selected to go for depth with their later picks which is totally fine, they need it. Their two first are really all that mattered on top of getting Trent Williams. They got a replacement for Buckner and Kyle Shannahan his second good receiver. Job well done for the Niners.

AFC EAST

Buffalo Bills
Round 2 No 54 ovr. AJ Epenesa EDGE, Iowa A+
    I don’t think I could have come up with a better fit for a player if I tried. Epenesa will fit right at home opposite Jerry Hughes. Epenesa will be the big edge setter on the left while Hughes rushes the passer on the right. The man is not your traditional edge, he is more in the vein of Cam Jordan/Michael Bennett mold of messing up the play and breaking the line of scrimmage. Getting  a top 15 talent at 54 is always a no brainer. When it’s at a premium position of need, even better.

Round 3 No 86 ovr. Zack Moss RB, Utah: A- 
I love this player. He is in that Marshawn Lynch, north to south mode of running back that the Bills are missing. The bills are ready to contend now and getting a solid running game is a solid part of that. I think he is a perfect fit with Devin Singletary. There was a reason he didn’t get the bulk of the carries basically throughout the whole year. It is because the Bills want to establish a power run game and Moss is meant for that. The minus comes from perhaps a lineman now and RB later would have been a better strategy.

Round 4 No 128 ovr. Gabriel Davis WR, UCF: A
The Bills wanted to get in on the WR party that this draft provides. They always say that you are supposed to build your WR group like a basketball team. Right here, Davis is a lot like a power forward. He gets those 50/50 balls and he plays faster than his 40m time was. I think this is a great pick.

Round 5 No 167 ovr. Jake Fromm QB, Georgia: A
Probably the most publicized pick by the media from the Bills draft. I for one am not in the hot take business of drafting a big name QB means any reflects any distrust in their franchise QB. I think getting Fromm gets them a really good backup who has played in a lot of big games. Fromm is an incredibly smart QB who can fill in a pinch for Allen if worse comes to worse. Think of the NO Saints. Imagine if that team didn’t have Teddy Bridgewater for 5 games.

Round 6 No 188 ovr. Tyler Bass K, Georgia Southern: A
Taking the best kicker with the best leg in the class is always a great pick. No Problems.

Round 6 No 207 ovr. Isaiah Hodges WR, Oregon State: C+
At this point you are betting on traits and production. While Hodges doesn’t have the former like most receivers in this class do, he has been one of the most productive players in CFB in the last 3 years. He could develop into a really good possession receiver. 

Round 7 No 239 ovr. Dane Jackson CB, Pitt: A
He may be a bit slow but he plays with intensity at the line of scrimmage. I think that Dane could be a really good rotational corner in press coverage. 

​Buffalo Bills: A
Buffalo for the second year in a row had one of my favorite drafts in the league. I loved almost every pick they made. My only problem with their draft is while they did get great value at every pick, not one offensive lineman? seems a little odd to me.

New York Jets

Round 1 No 11 ovr. Mekhi Becton OT, Louisville A 
    New Yorkers should not be as skeptical as they are about Becton. The man is a freak, he’s huge, once he gets his hands you it’s over. I think getting my No.1 ranked OT at 11 is a pretty good deal. When you are rebuilding an offensive line like the Jets are, it is important to start with size in order to get a foundation. The Jets nailed this pick.

Round 2 No 59 ovr. Denzel Mims WR, Baylor: B
This is a grade specifically for my feelings on the player. I think he does not play as fast as he runs. I think he has an opportunity to be a special receiver if the speed translates. I would be a little skeptical and I personally would have taken a different receiver but I get that the expected value is probably dead on. This is pretty much where he was expected to go if not lower than he was.


Round 3 No 68 ovr. Ashtyn Davis S, Cal: A
One of the more underrated players in the class in my opinion. A prototypical center fielder, this track star uses his speed to win in the secondary. He reminds me a lot of Eric Weddle when I watch his tape and what is most surprising to me is that he was supposed to play CB when he walked on. I think he could play some CB in the NFL as well. I love this pick.

Round 3 No 79 ovr. Jabari Zuniga EDGE, Florida: B-
I like the player as a football player. He is a physically gifted player. I think that this may just be a risk for a team burned at the position before. He has elite speed and power at the position but has had work ethic and off field issues. Ironically he was Jachai Polite’s best friend in college and now goes to the team that gave up on him.

Round 4 No 120 ovr.  LaMical Perine RB, Florida: C+
It is always hard to give an unfavorable grade on a player I really like. Perine was a regular feature on the Andrew Miller Man Crush of the Year Award. I thought he would be the steal of the draft with his bowling ball style and a surprise burst. However, I don’t see how he fits in with the Jets when his ideal role overlaps with Le'veon’s skill set. I think the Jets should have used this pick elsewhere.


Round 4 No 125 ovr. James Morgan QB, FIU, B+
You know they got the traits-y developmental quarterback in the 4th round. I can’t really be all that mad at the pick. I really like what he could be. I just think that maybe they should have focused more on Sam Darnold.

Round 4 No 129 ovr. Cameron Clark OT, Charlotte: B
Alright the Jets are committing to size up front, I like it. Cameron Clark is a tackle now but I think he will eventually move into guard where his ferocity and size can really be of use. He has good instincts on how to use his massive frame, I think the Jets should be happy with this pick.

Round 5 No 158 ovr.  Bryce Hall CB, Virgina: A
    Probably the best value pick in the whole class for the Jets. Bryce Hall probably should have gone early third, so getting him here is a steal. He is one of the best press corners in this whole draft and also possess what I think is underrated athleticism. The only question for him are his medicals. If he can stay healthy, the Jets might have gotten a Day 1 starter late in the draft.

Round 6 No 191 ovr. Braden Man P, Texas A&M: A
    The Jets got the best leg and punter in the class. No complaints here.
GRADE: A-
The Jets had one of their best drafts in recent memory. Not one pick in this draft is a bad player. Some may question their fit into the offense or off field issues, but overall they were all good players. If not for the few risks the Jets took I would consider this a perfect draft class. Well done at getting Sam Darnold the help he needs. 

Miami Dolphins 

Round 1  No 5 ovr. Tua Tagovailoa QB, Alabama: B
    It is no secret that I was a bigger fan of Herbert. I give all the credit in the world to the Dolphins for the smokescreen that went on to get Tua at 5. I just think Herbert was a better prospect. The B comes more from all the injury issues that may come up. Miami got their guy and now they have to lie in the bed they made.


Round 1 No 18 ovr. Austin Jackson OT, USC: B
This player may be a reach at 18, but the Dolphins need to protect their famously brittle new franchise QB. Of the tackles that were left, Jackson represents the best potential of the field. He had worse tape this year than many expected, but his 2018 tape was really good and he flashes that elite athleticism in a lot of games this year. With his blend of size and movement, he could just as easily be a star but he could also never start a game.

Round 1 No 30 ovr. Noah Igbinoghene CB, Auburn: C+
I gave this a C+ for the value. I think they could have gotten him in the second if they really wanted him. For a team with all those top 50 picks, early on I think they should go for more of a best player available approach. However this guy should be able to translate his great hip movement and speed into being a great slot corner with the new and improved secondary in Miami.


Round 2 No 39 ovr. Robert Hunt G, Louisiana, A
This may be a little bit of a reach for Hunt, but I don’t care. The Dolphins should double down on lineman, but in the case of Robert Hunt the Dolphins got the biggest, baddest mother shucker in the whole class outside Mekhi Becton. He is probably the best at using his size and bullying the trenches. I love this player and the pick.

Round 2 No 56 ovr. Raekwon Davis DT, Alabama: A
I love this pick as well. The Dolphins should be looking to get as many cornerbacks as possible and getting Davis is one of them. I think Davis was undervalued because of the way Alabama uses defensive tackles. They don’t ask them to pin their ears back all the time. With Davis at bare minimum you are getting a run stopper extraordinaire. He reminds me of a better version of A’Shawn Robinson. Great pick.

Round 3 No 70 ovr.  Brandon Jones S, Texas: C-
I just do not get this pick. In the third round they had so many better options at safety. Instead they get an okay one that I had a 6th round grade on. A C- is better because they have the capital to play with but I think this may be one of the worst value picks of the draft.

Round 4 No 111 ovr. Solomon Kindley G, Georgia: A-
Not great value but getting athletic lineman from big name schools is not a bad idea. Plus on top of this, they triple dip at lineman for Tua which is always a good thing in my eyes.

Round 5 No 154 ovr.  Jason Strawbridge DL, North Carolina: B+
Decent value pick here. While Davis is a penetrating run stopper, Strawbridge is a pure space eater. I really like this player and fits what Brian Flores does up there on his line. 

Round 5 No 164 ovr. Curtis Weaver EDGE, Boise State: A
The best value pick of the draft for the Dolphins. I think he woulda been a reach in the second where he was often mocked, but here it is a steal. His speed and bend will be a great second option from the underperforming Charles Harris. 

Round 6 No 185 ovr. Blake Ferguson LS, LSU: S for Snapper
I refuse to grade long snappers. I would give this grade an F if I could because you should never draft a LS earlier than the 7th and especially not in the top 200. 

Round 7 No 246 ovr. Malcolm Perry RB, Navy: A
I love this pick because he can be a good pass catching RB for the Dolphins who is incredibly smart. Plus being out of the Navy, he is used to the tough coaching style of Brian Flores.

Miami Dolphins : B
The Dolphins had a pretty pedestrian draft in my opinion. There were a bunch of good picks sprinkled in there for sure, but I think the reached on most of the players outside the second round. They did get their QB and get lineman to protect him but I think there were other places the Dolphins could have gone with all that draft capital. 

AFC North

Cincinnati Bengals: B+

Round 1 No 1 ovr. Joe Burrow QB, LSU: A+
    This man is probably the best QB I have ever scouted. I do not throw this out there lightly, he is Peyton Manning. Not only is he smart, productive, and great under pressure, he just has a way about him that is simply unique. He is similar to Saquon Barkley where his intangibles are such a plus they are hard to ignore. He has a swagger about him and I think will take little to no time to get in the top 10 QB discussion. 

Round 2 No 33 ovr. Tee Higgins WR, Clemson: B
If it were based on value, I would give this pick an A. I also understand getting Joe Burrow his future No.1 target and getting that chemistry down quick. However, I just think that when you don’t have a great O line and you have 3 productive receivers outside AJ Green on your roster already, I think they should have waited for their receiver but I can’t blame them with taking one of the best players available in Tee Higgins. 

Round 3 No 65 ovr. Logan Wilson LB, Wyoming: A-
This is a pick I really like. I like getting a hard hitting linebacker when your defense really doesn’t have much of an enforcer. Wilson makes sense here but still, they have not drafted Burrow an offensive lineman and are saying to trot out their two 1st rounders who have not played either a full season or a season yet. I would be cautious if I were the Bengals. 

Round 4 No 107 ovr. Akeem Davis-Gaither LB: Appalachian State: B+
Another player I really like. His speed and coverage ability can be a great coverage to Wilson’s bruising mentality. I still think the Bengals should have looked at the offensive line. Just sayin

Round 5 No 147 ovr.  Khalid Kareem EDGE, Notre Dame: A
I like the idea of getting another good pass rusher opposite Carl Lawson. Carlos Dunlap is only getting older and Sam Hubbard hasn't amounted to much of anything. 

Round 6 No 180 ovr. Hakeem Adeniji OT, Kansas: A
Finally the Bengals address the offensive line. With Adeniji being the pick, it all makes sense. Clearly Jonah Williams is supposed to be the LT. Adeniji is an undersized tackle who could reliably play either RT or G in the NFL. He is a technician and is very good at getting leverage. That is why I think he would excel in the interior, something the Bengals desperately need. 

Round 7 No 215 ovr. Marcus Bailey LB, Purdue: A+
The A+ here is for value only. I like this player and the way he plays football a lot. He is a tru MLB who probably will be playing special teams. Considering the Bengals depth chart at linebacker, even Bailey may see a legitimate role early on. 

GRADE: B+
I like pretty much every player they drafted. They got nothing but good football players and 2 really good ones. They got a special QB prospect in Burrow and his future No. 1 option in Tee Higgins. I think they got a decent foundation for the future, the only thing keeping a draft with as good of a No.1 pick as they got is that they waited way too long to get protection for said QB. other than that decent draft. 

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Cleveland Browns

Round 1 No 10 ovr. Jedrick Wills Jr. OT, Alabama: A
It was no secret that the Browns were missing protection from the edges. Greg Robinson was their best tackle for crying out loud. To protect Baker, the Browns selected the best natural pass blocker in the class. His technique is flawless already and his footwork is phenomenal. Him and Conklin will combine for a solid base for Baker.

Round 2 No 44 ovr. Grant Delpit S, LSU: B+
I like the need and fit, but the Browns are risking a lot with this pick right here. I think they should have gone with the safer guy in Winfield here. But in Delpit they get a guy who was supposed to be a top 5 lock at the beginning of the year. The man has all the tools of a Jamal Adams. He’s twitchy, hard hitting and quick to a decision except he is better in coverage. The only problem is this season you saw him make a lot of mistakes. Hopefully the Browns can fix that problem, but it remains to be seen if the coaching staff is up to the task.

Round 3 No 88 ovr. Jordan Elliott DL, Mizzou: A+
One of my favorite picks in the entire draft. The Cleveland Browns lack interior pressure of any sort. Well here they get arguably one of the most underappreciated interior penetrators in the whole class. I love this pick, and I think the Browns got a steal here at 88.

Round 3 No 97 ovr. Jacob Phillips LB, LSU: B
A little bit of a reach here for a prospect I really like. Often overlooked by the rest of the LSU defense, he really is a good player in his own right. He is not the freak Patrick Queen is but he is a good athlete in his own right. Plus the Browns need to replace the surefire tackling ability of Joe Schoebert and Phillips can help with that problem.

Round 4 No 115 ovr.  Harrison Bryant TE, FAU: C
    The first real head scratcher from the Browns. I don’t get why they feel the need to draft an athletic TE when they spent a first round pick on Njoku and signed Austin Hooper to a big deal. I like the player, not the pick.

Round 5 No 160 ovr. Nick Harris IOL:  Washington: A
    Another great pick by the Browns here. Harris comes with an injury history, which is why he fell here. If he can stay healthy, the Browns got another big guy in the middle in case Austin Corbett continues to be a bust and more importantly can play all interior positions. 

Round 6 No187 ovr. Donovan Peoples-Jones WR, Michigan: A+
DPJ could probably have a case against Shea Patterson for $5 million because getting him in the 5th round is atrocious. The man is a pure athlete and I think with a better QB, he woulda been a first round caliber receiver. Getting him here is an absolute steal and it surprisingly fits really well. Odell on one side, DPJ eventually on the other with Jarvis in the slot. Great pick!

GRADE: A
GM Andrew Berry did a great jon in his debut draft as Browns GM. All across the board he got great value and possible superstars. I love everything that he did in this draft aside from drafting another athletic TE. Outside of that the draft was near flawless. They got lineman and secondary pieces the Browns. Baker now has the protection he needs and should have no excuses this season. 

AFC SOUTH

 Jacksonville Jaguars

Round 1 No 9 ovr.  CJ Henderson CB, Florida: A+
    I think this was the absolute best pick. They have a decent line and when a team is rebuilding like they are, they should invest in the premium positions whose elite players aren’t often in FA. CJ Anderson is possibly the best man to man corner who has a real stick to him in coverage. Even more impressive are his ball skills and his  hip movement. I love this pick and I think throughout this whole draft process, I saw him as one of the underrated prospects. Great pick.

Round 1 No 20 ovr. K’Lavon Chaisson EDGE, LSU: A+
    The Jags are following the old model which got them to the AFC Championship game: When an elite defensive player falls to you, draft him. Plain and simple. Chaisson should not have been here. He is a top 12 player and pass rusher with some of the best athleticism in the class. Him and Josh Allen will make a fantastic pair moving forward. Hopefully they stick to this model and when they draft their QB, it’s not Blake Bortles. 


Round 2 No 42 ovr.  Laviska Shenault WR, Colorado: B
    I like this player but I think that the Jags didn’t really need him. I think they are pretty set with Dede and DJ Chark. I think that Shenault occupies the same role that Dede is currently in. I think they could have gone elsewhere, but getting a great do everything weapon like Shenault isn’t the worst thing in the world.
    
Round 3 No 73 ovr. Davon Hamilton DT, OSU: B-
    I think this is a reach for a team that has players at the position. They got a space eater, which they do need, but they have yet to really see what they can get out of Taven Bryan. I still think there were better players even at this position on the board, but hey, to each their own.

Round 4 No 116 ovr. Ben Batrch OL, St. John’s: A+
    Great pick. The Jags need offensive lineman. Getting bartch a little later than expected is a good steal. They get an athletic and little undersized tackler who is really good at using his power and leverage. He could play at LT or at RT depending on how they view Cam Robinson. Like this pick.

Round 4 No 137 ovr.  Josiah Scott CB, MSU: B-
    The Jags need more than simply one corner but I think they got one who is a little bit of a reach. I like his press ability that will be perfect in Jacksonville, but I question his speed and ability to stay with receivers long term. I don’t know I like the position, not the value.

Round 4 No 140 ovr.  Shaquille Quarterman LB, Miami: B
    I like this pick for the Jags. They need a second LB to Myles Jack. Especially one who is a more aggressive tackler. Shaw Quarterman fits the bill and he could be a future start moving forward in Jacksonville.

Round 5 No 157 ovr. Daniel Thomas S: Auburn: C-
I don’t like this pick. The Jags need a safety but not one that I think could be off the roster in years. I don’t think he’s the athlete needed to compete in the NFL for a starting role. I think he will be bound to a role, but will never stop. I think that the grade is only for the position, but the value is terrible. 

Round 5 No 165 ovr. Collin Johnson WR, Texas: C-
It sucks because I like this player. I really think that Collin Johnson could be great in another situation. But I don’t think that there is room for Johnson on the roster. They have enough receivers. They must not like one of them. I don’t like this pick for the Jaguars. They could have used high upside guys from other positions more.

Round 6 No 189 ovr. Jake Lutton QB, Oregon State: B
I think this is a contingency plan in case Minshew doesn’t work. Lutton was one of the few draftable players at the position. He is a good player with a good arm, but he probably won’t get the start. It is always good business to draft a QB, even late. 

Round 6 No 206 ovr. Tyler Davis TE, Georgia Tech: B
    They probably should have targeted the position earlier when draftable players were on the board. I don’t think this player will see meaningful snaps in the NFL. I think the position was of need and there is enough athleticism to make the pick possibly be worth it.

 Round 7 No 223 ovr. Chris Claybrooks CB, Memphis: B-
    No problem whatsoever taking a late round flier on a slot corner.

 Jacksonville Jaguars: A- 
I really like what the Jaguars did this draft. Jacksonville has gotten 2 elite defensive players with their first two picks. Then to get a player like Ben Bartch in the 4th along with Laviska in the 2nd means that the Jags have talent again. The Jaguars may have had some real reaches in this draft but the talent and athleticism they got should not be overlooked. Probably one of my favorite hauls of the draft. 
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AFC WEST

Dear Eli Manning,
    
    I’m an 18 year old kid and honestly, I didn’t like sports as a small child. By the time I started watching sports and getting emotionally invested in the teams you were out there every game and as the rest of the team retired or left, as Victor Cruz went away, as Hakeem Nicks, Mario Manningham, Osi Umenyiora, and Justin Tuck went away, the one player left on the team from when I started watching was you. Now that’s over. No one from that 2011 team that I can recognize by name is still on the roster. It’s the end of an era.

    ​The first Super Bowl I watched was LII when the Giants played the Patriots for the first time. I watched because I was a loyal New Yorker and I had been to some Giants games in the past but when David Tyree caught that ball I had no idea about the significance of that play on my life. Over the next few years I started to watch weekly and really root for the Giants. My favorite sports moment of all time was watching Super Bowl XLVI with my best friend, a Patriots fan, and watching you go down the field in another drive at the end of the fourth quarter to put the Giants ahead for good. Everyone remembers the David Tyree catch but my personal favorite has always been University of Michigan alum Mario Manningham’s beautiful toe-tapping sideline catch that would not have ever happened without the perfectly placed pass from you. You gave me my favorite sports moment, thank you.