By: Sean Duffy 

Now that the NFL Draft has concluded and roster signings and jersey numbers are being set, let’s take a look back on how each team drafted. I will be ranking each team’s overall draft selections as well as future picks acquired through trades in this draft. Teams will be ranked not only on the players selected, but how much value they got for their pick, how each team addressed its own positional needs, and how well they set themselves up for the future. Lastly, I would like to note that my rankings are subjective and my own personal opinion. Without further ado, let’s get into the rankings.  

32. Minnesota Vikings 

The Minnesota Vikings started the draft with only four picks, so this draft looked lackluster from the start. What the Vikings failed to do was acquire more valuable draft capital. Yes, they left with only one more draft pick, but not in the area they needed. They grabbed a starting caliber guard in round one, but the rest of their picks are fliers on late round players. The Vikings had the 24 overall pick, and didn’t have a second-round selection. The Giants gave up two third round selections to trade with the Texans back into the first round. The Falcons gave up next year’s first round selection to move up 20 spots to trade with the Rams. The Rams picked at 25 and the Texans picked at 26. The Vikings had great opportunities to trade back and acquire more useful draft capital but chose not to, which is why they rank dead last.  

31. Miami Dolphins 

Miami seemed to be poised for a strong draft, holding ten picks, most importantly the thirteenth overall pick. Miami used that pick for Kenneth Grant, a strong player in a position of need but not worth that high of a selection, especially when other more valuable players remained on the draft board, specifically Texas cornerback Jahdae Barron. This year’s draft was relatively low on high-end cornerback talent, and Barron was the consensus number one. I was pleased with the Dolphins trading up to draft Jonah Savaiinaea, a talented guard, but this doesn’t address the Dolphins needs at tackle. The rest of Miami’s picks don’t move me whatsoever, which is why I graded their draft so abysmally.  

30. Cleveland Browns 

As we all have probably heard by now, the Browns traded back three spots in the first round with the Jaguars, giving up the selection for a 2026 first round pick, a 2025 second round pick, a 2025 fourth, and a 2025 sixth-round swap. The Jags took Travis Hunter, and the Browns drafted Mason Graham. I am chalking this as a win for Jacksonville, but that’s not why the Browns are so low on this list. Taking Carson Schwesinger at 33 overall was a blatant reach; he has talent, but the Browns have bigger needs than off-ball linebacker and 33 is an incredibly valuable pick in this year’s draft. I did like the Quinshon Judkins selection after, but that is seemingly where Cleveland stopped drafting well. Harold Fannin is a good pass catching tight end weapon behind David Njoku, but he won’t have anyone to throw him the ball. The Browns took two quarterbacks in the draft, Dillon Gabriel at the end of the third and Shedeur Sanders in the fifth. The Browns even gave up their sixth and seventh round picks to trade up for Sanders. Cleveland should be dead last if it weren’t for the possibility of two top ten picks next year.  

29. Cincinatti Bengals 

Prior to the draft, the Bengals signed Ja’marr Chase and Tee Higgins to record contract extensions, tying up 45% of their cap space on three players. To further this, the Bengals were only competitive because of their offense and their defense was one of the worst units in the league. One would assume that Cincinatti should draft capable defensive starters in the draft, right? The Bengals used their first-round pick on Shemar Stewart, a defensive lineman who is an incredible athlete, but nowhere close to a finished product in terms of technique. Derrick Harmon, a more productive defensive lineman was still on the board, and he would likely be a day one starter for the Bengals. Taking Demetrius Knight Jr in the second was a step in the right direction for their defense, and Dylan Fairchild was great value in the third, but the rest of the draft doesn’t give that 21st ranked defense any signs of life in the coming year.  

28. New Orleans Saints 

New Orleans is likely to hold the number one overall pick next year, and there’s a lot of reason to think that. They are in cap space purgatory every year, and they just fired their head coach. New head coach Kellen Moore did a good job of finding replacements for veteran players in the later rounds, replacing an aging Demario Davis with Oklahoma linebacker Danny Stutsman, replacing Tyrann Mathieu with Jonas Sanker, a hard-hitting prototypical safety, and providing a capable Alvin Kamara backup in Devin Neal. New Orleans’ second-round selection of Tyler Shough is what drags their draft so low. With so much talent on the board and the Saints needing younger players everywhere, a lackluster quarterback reach is not what the Saints needed. There must be something Kellen Moore sees in him that I don’t, but that’s why he’s the head coach and I’m not. 

27. San Francisco 49ers 

I originally had the 49ers lower, but I moved them up a couple of spots giving them the benefit of the doubt. I knocked them for taking Mykel Williams over Jalon Walker, but either pick is still a safe selection, and the 49ers did a good job of filling positional needs. The Alfred Collins pick was a little early for my liking, but he will be filling a need on that interior defensive line, and Nick Martin was incredibly early in my opinion. Martin is an unfinished product at linebacker, and while he could be a steal in the third round, he won’t be seeing an extended role next to Fred Warner for a while. His best fit would be on true passing downs in special blitz packages or as a QB spy. The rest of San Francisco’s draft class is nothing special, but the theme of their draft was reaching.  

26. Washington Commanders 

The Commanders opened up their draft taking a tackle in the first round, but it wasn’t the right draft pick. They selected Josh Conerly Jr, but Josh Simmons was still on the board and is considered a better overall tackle product. Yes, Conerly had a higher Relative Athletic Score (RAS), but why take the chance? Each team has its own preferences when it comes to taking linemen, so I can’t knock the Commanders that low for this selection, but outside of second-round pick Trey Amos, Washington had an unimpressive draft. They drafted players with high Relative Athletic Scores, but this could be a boom-or-bust draft. With a team with as much potential as the Washington Commanders, I think safer picks with higher floors would’ve been a better security blanket surrounding Jayden Daniels.  

25. Pittsburgh Steelers 

I was a strong supporter of the Steeler’s draft, but there are just so many strong draft classes on the board. Derrick Harmon is a day-one starter opposite Cameron Heyward, replacing Larry Ogunjobi. Kaleb Johnson is a three-down back that will fit beautifully in Arthur Smith’s run-heavy offensive scheme. On the other hand, I wasn’t a huge fan of the Jack Sawyer selection; the Steelers already have a strong edge room of T.J. Watt, with two rotational pieces in Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig. I will never argue against more rotational edge rushers, but these players are found in later rounds and didn’t warrant a fourth-round selection. There is upside for Jack Sawyer as the complementary rusher besides Watt, but Sawyer will already start too far back on the depth chart.  

24. Los Angeles Rams 

The biggest and most impactful pick for the Rams will be the 2026 first round pick they received from a trade-back with the Falcons. Los Angeles started their draft at pick 46 with Terrance Ferguson, a more-than-capable backup behind the aging Tyler Higbee. The Rams followed that up with Josiah Stewart, a very strong rotational edge rusher that could blossom into a starter beside Byron Young and Jared Verse. Jarquez Hunter adds a more physical aspect to backup Kyren Williams and Blake Corum. The rest of their draft was solid fliers on positions of value. The Rams are notorious for draft steals in the later rounds, meaning seventh round selection Konata Mumpfield could be another weapon for Matthew Stafford. 

23. Atlanta Falcons 

I do believe the Falcons won the first-round trade-up; they lose next years first round pick, but they pick up a third rounder as well as James Pearce Jr. Pearce Jr has the upside to be the best edge rusher in the draft class and only fell this far due to a drop in production this past year. Combining James Pearce Jr with first-round gem Jalon Walker creates a truly dominant edge rushing duo in one single draft class. Xavier Watts is a starting caliber safety picked in the third round. Finally, Jack Nelson is an underrated tackle prospect with a mean streak. The Falcons did fall this low on the list due because they did give up a first rounder, and if James Pearce doesn’t turn out, then Atlanta’s front office is going to have a lot of explaining to do.  

22. Detroit Lions 

The Lions had a very average draft. Detroit had one of the most complete teams in the NFL last year, so they didn’t have a lot of needs going into the draft. They filled their interior defensive line with Tyleik Williams, addressed Kevin Zeitler’s departure in free agency with second-round selection Tate Ratledge, and drafted value for the remainder of the draft. Isaac TeSlaa is a very good run-blocking wide receiver with sure hands and a physical presence. Miles Frazier is a steal in the fifth round, and Boise State edge Ahmed Hassanein is a football player, plain and simple. The Detroit Lions had a strong draft, but so did many other teams, which is why they are as low as they are on this list.  

21. Kansas City Chiefs 

Kansas City’s draft was filled with some very solid, value picks. Josh Simmons falling to the Chiefs should be illegal. In the second round, Kansas City took the Tershawn Wharton’s replace in Norman Omarr-Lott and even grabbed a capable edge rusher in Ashton Gillotte. They traded up ten spots from pick 95 to pick 85 to take a cornerback, but they gave up a 2026 fourth round selection, one of my biggest issues with this draft. Nohl Williams needs to pan out as a quality player, given the fact that the Chiefs lost greater draft capital trading in the first round than in the third. I am especially fond of Jalen Royals at the end of the fourth round; Andy Reid loves wide receivers who can make plays with the ball in their hands, and that is exactly what they are getting in Royals, who has a knack for shedding first contact.  

20. Green Bay Packers 

 Arguably the biggest storyline of the first round of the NFL Draft was the Packers taking a wide receiver in the first round for the first time in over 20 years. And while the performance and fanfare behind this selection were certainly unforgettable, Matthew Golden wasn’t Green Bay’s best pick. He’s a strong pick, a vertical threat and another weapon for Jordan Love, but I was particularly enamored with the Barryn Sorrell selection. Sorrell will have an opportunity during training camp to earn himself a spot in the edge rotation, a position group up for grabs besides Rashan Gary. The Anthony Belton selection was a little early for my taste, but he’s a behemoth of a football player that the Packers love. The rest of Green Bay’s draft was filled with rotational pieces, including Collin Oliver, giving defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley a versatile chess piece to play with.  

19. Tennessee Titans 

The Titans started their draft taking Cam Ward first overall, the consensus “right” pick for a team that has a lot of needs. They took Oluwafemi Oladejo in the second, an incredibly underrated edge rusher from UCLA. I was not particularly fond of Tennessee’s fourth round selection of Chimere Dike, that was the biggest reach of the entire draft in my opinion. However, taking Elic Ayomanor later in the fourth round does make up for that error. The Titans did many things right in this draft class: they took their quarterback of the future, retooled their wide receiver room, and even swung on a running back in a deep running back class. There’s a lot of work to do for this Titans squad, but this draft was a great start.  

18. Indianapolis Colts 

The biggest need for the Colts for the last three seasons was a true tight end, and after the Bears picked Colston Loveland, they lucked into the best one available in Tyler Warren. They followed that strong selection with another strong selection in the second round. JT Tuimoloau will fill the hole left by Dayo Odeyingbo, who left for the bears in free agency. Justin Walley was a good pick but was about a round too early. I see the vision with this pick given how former Golden Gopher defensive backs have fared in the NFL, including Antoine Winfield Jr and Tyler Nubin. Players like Dylan Fairchild and Wyatt Milum were waiting to be taken to replace Will Fries on that dominant Colts offensive line. Where Indy really excelled was their late round selections. DJ Giddens will be an underrated change-of-pace back behind Jonathan Taylor. The Colts kept Riley Leonard local and gave him a chance to earn himself a job as the starting quarterback this season. Hunter Wohler was drafted as a safety but is anticipated to play linebacker given his large frame and his willingness to come downfield and lay a hit. Indianapolis had a relatively average draft but did a great job drafting in the late rounds, the cornerstone of a team headed in the right direction. 

17. Houston Texans 

I didn’t plan on three of the four AFC South teams being right next to each other, but this will make for a more competitive division compared to years past. Houstin made the decision to trade back out of the first round so that New York could draft a quarterback, a move that would bolster their receiving core. The Texans would use both 2025 picks they acquired in the trade back to take two Iowa State wide receivers in Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel. This would imply that Houston will be moving from Tank Dell, and Jaylin Noel will be his replacement, likely in the slot. Aireontae Ersery was a smart pick in the second round to fill in for Laremy Tunsil, who was traded to the Commanders. Taking Graham Mertz in the sixth round will give the Texans a confident young backup who is more than willing to throw the ball downfield. Lastly, with their last pick, Houston selected Luke Lachey, a tight end from Iowa. This is my favorite pick made by the Texans based solely on upside. Former standout Hawkeye tight ends include George Kittle, Sam LaPorta, Noah Fant and T.J. Hockenson. Lachey has the same background of three of the top five tight ends in the league and was taken with the third-to-last pick in the draft.  

16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 

The Buccaneers shocked a lot of people by taking Emeka Egbuka at nineteen overall. They garnered some hate for this, but I don’t think it’s justified. Emeka Egbuka is one of the best pass catchers in this entire draft, and taking him here is well worth the investment. Both Mike Evans and Chris Godwin are getting older, so having a talented insurance policy is going to keep the Bucs receiving core very strong for a long time. And even if Tampa Bay passed on Jahdae Barron, they bolstered their secondary in the next two rounds, taking Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish in the next two rounds. Finally, Tez Johnson in the seventh round has incredibly high upside; the biggest concern about Johnson was his weight, but he was a very productive receiver at Oregon and should be able to contribute at the next level. Pairing him with Egbuka and Jalen McMillan could create a nasty three-headed monster for Tampa after the Mike Evans/Chris Godwin era.  

15. Philadelphia Eagles 

The Eagles being this low on the list just shows how well other teams ahead of them drafted. The Eagles had one of the most talented defensive players in Jihaad Campbell fall into their lap, trading up only one pick to grab him. In the back half of the second round, Philadelphia selected Andrew Mukuba to replace C.J. Gardner-Johnson. Vic Fangio will be able to unlock Mukuba’s true potential. Ty Robinson was a great value pick in the fourth round, and is another strong depth piece along the Eagles defensive line. I wasn’t incredibly impressed with the rest of their draft. Philadelphia took some good rotational pieces on that already dominant front seven, and more depth on their offensive line. At the end of the day, however, Howie Roseman knows how to draft talent and has a proven track record of it. Expect many of these players to be key contributors for the Eagles at the final stretch of the season.  

14. Jacksonville Jaguars 

Following two disappointing endings to promising seasons, the Jaguars fired their head coach and general manager and began a rebuild at the end of the 2025 season. New general manager James Gladstone was a part of the team the Rams front office when they won the Super Bowl, so Gladstone is bound to swing for the fences in this draft. Trading a first, second, and fourth to move up three spots and draft Travis Hunter is certainly the bold move needed to kickstart a historically bad franchise. The floor for Hunter is incredibly high, demonstrating high-level skills on both sides of the ball. Even if Hunter can only play one side in the NFL, the Jaguars are still getting a starting-caliber player, bolstering both a weak receiver and cornerback room. The Jaguars followed up the Hunter pick with value in the third and fourth; Wyatt Milum can start on the offensive line on day one, and Bhayshul Tuten recorded the fastest 40-yard dash of all running backs in the combine. Three picks after Tuten, the Jags took Jack Kiser, the linebacker who manned the National Championship Notre Dame defense. This installs a long-term solution at linebacker if the front office decides to let Devin Lloyd walk in free agency. The Jaguars finished up the draft taking Jonah Monheim, a quality backup center and a high upside running back in LeQuint Allen.  

13. Los Angeles Chargers 

The Chargers are coming off a hot start in Jim Harbaugh’s first season as head coach, but their season ended abruptly in the playoffs, losing to Houston. Los Angeles looked to bolster their skill positions in the earlier rounds, drafting Omarion Hampton in the first round and taking Ole Miss wide receiver Tre Harris in the second. These two players should have an immediate impact in the offense. In the next two rounds, the Chargers drafted to reinforce their defensive line, taking the versatile Jamaree Caldwell and a steal in the fourth with Kyle Kennard. Los Angeles’ biggest needs coming into the last two offseasons were the skill positions. After taking Joe Alt fifth overall last year, the Chargers still needed to get Justin Herbert and that’s what they did. They took high impact players on both offense and defense with very high upside and low risk fliers on other positions later in the draft. This was a textbook draft for the Los Angeles Chargers.  

12. Denver Broncos 

Denver shocked the world when they took Jahdae Barron in the first round. They already had reigning Defensive Player of the Year in Patrick Surtain Jr at Cornerback and Riley Moss was really coming into his own opposite of him. Instead, Denver created the second coming of the No Fly Zone, and I love the selection. In such a deep running back class and a top-heavy cornerback class, why not take the best possible cornerback? Another high quality running back will be available to draft in the next two rounds, which is exactly what Denver did in drafting RJ Harvey. Harvey showed his game speed at the combine, running a 4.4 40-yard dash, which would mesh perfectly into Sean Payton’s offense. They did draft Pat Bryant early, but Bryant might be one of the most underrated receivers in this draft class. Time will tell if Payton reached on Harvey and Bryant.  

11. Dallas Cowboys 

Jerry Jones may be known for his offseason antics, but the Cowboys didn’t do as bad as anyone would’ve thought in this year’s draft. Tyler Booker might’ve been a reach at 12 overall, but he was a strong guard. In this position, Dallas needed to make a swing to replace future hall-of-famer Zack Martin. In the second round, the Cowboys took Donovan Ezeiruaku, a talented edge rusher who is a first round talent. In the third round, Dallas drafted Shavon Revel Jr, a first-round cornerback who fell due to an early-season ACL tear. Revel Jr will be cleared to play in the summer, so drafting him in the third round is quite the steal for America’s team. Finally, the Cowboys took a running back in Jaydon Blue, keeping the Texas product in-state. My only issue in this draft is taking a running back this late. Dallas’ running back room is dreadful; Javonte Williams, Miles Sanders, Jaydon Blue and seventh round pick Phil Mafah. Trading up to take a more complete back. The entire running back room feels temporary, so trading up to draft a do-it-all back would’ve been well worth the investment for Dallas. 

10. Chicago Bears 

In Ben Johnson’s first offseason as head coach, he wasted no time, signing center Drew Dalman, and trading for Jonah Jackson and Joe Thuney. In one offseason, the Bears offensive line was shored up in free agency. This allowed the Bears to address other issues in the draft. While criticized by many, taking Colston Loveland at tenth overall was a very good pick for the Bears. Chicago already has Cole Kmet, a reliable blocker in the run game, and while Colston Loveland is a capable and willing blocker, he is a weapon in the middle of the field. Drafting Loveland gave Ben Johnson his “joker”, or his flexible offensive mismatch. Complimenting the receiving core is the drafting of Luther Burden. Had his production not fallen off slightly in 2024, an argument could’ve been made that he was a better receiver than Tetairoa McMillan. Chicago grabbed two more stout defensive pieces to bolster their trenches in the second round. with tackle Ozzy Trapilo and defensive lineman Shemar Turner. The Bears took high floor players in Ruben Hyppolite II and Zah Frazier and ended their draft with a waiver at running back in Kyle Monangai from Rutgers.  

9. Buffalo Bills 

The Bills put together a strong defensive draft, getting younger in the secondary and the trenches. They took the fastest player in the draft in Maxwell Hairston, a lockdown corner from Kentucky. They followed that selection up with three consecutive picks on the defensive line, trading up for T.J. Sanders, and drafting Landon Jackson and Deone Walker. DaQuan Jones is 33 and Ed Oliver is 27, so getting cheaper and younger on the interior defensive line was a necessity for the Bills. They also drafted Von Miller’s replacement in Landon Jackson, an incredibly athletic and gritty prospect. Buffalo readdressed the secondary taking defensive back Jordan Hancock in the fifth round. Four picks later, Buffalo selected a future starter in Dorian Strong, who many considered the best press corner in the draft. The Bills wrapped up the draft taking a sleeper pick in offensive tackle Chase Lundt from Connecticut and taking a chance on wide receiver Kaden Prather. The Bills draft was controlled by getting younger and more talented at two positions of need, cornerback and defensive line. With a team as complete as Buffalo, taking younger players on cheaper rookie deals will always extend a team’s championship window.  

8. Carolina Panthers 

Many people mocked the Panthers in taking Tetairoa McMillan at eight overall, but I was a fan of the pick. Bryce Young took a step in the right direction this past season, so giving him a big body with a huge catch radius is only going to improve his game. For those concerned with his separation, Travis Hunter called McMillan, the “toughest receiver I’ve ever played against”. While the Panthers opted for receiver help in the first round, they still needed edge help entering day two. They addressed exactly this, taking Nic Scourton with their second-round pick and Princely Umanmielen with their third-round pick. Both of these players have the tools to succeed in the NFL, with Scourton being one of the most technically sound edge rushers in the draft. In the fourth round, they took Trevor Etienne to add a talented back behind Chuba Hubbard, and Lathan Ransom, a starting caliber safety that played a key role in Ohio State’s National Championship run. In the seventh, Carolina drafted Jimmy Horn Jr., a late round gem. When Horn Jr played at Colorado, it seemed like every catch he made had a chance to turn into a touchdown. He has a natural shiftiness and YAC ability that would concern any defensive coordinator. He could be one of the bigger late-round steals of the entire draft. 

7. Las Vegas Raiders 

After Pete Carroll was hired as the Head Coach, it was almost written in the stars they were taking Ashton Jeanty at sixth overall. Jeanty is going to be Pete Carroll’s bell cow running back, his Marshawn Lynch in Las Vegas. This pick might not have surprised anyone, but this pick is going to win the Raiders games. The Raiders initially had the 37 overall pick, but traded down twice to end up at pick 58, selecting Jack Bech, a sure-handed and physical wide receiver who can play bigger than his frame. These two trade backs netted Las Vegas two more third round picks, Darien Porter and Caleb Rogers. Porter is an athletic specimen who excels in zone coverage, and Rogers is a starter at right tackle opposite of Kolton Miller. What ranks Las Vegas so high on my list is their late round selections, however. Dont’e Thornton was my favorite wide receiver to watch in this class. While there is concern for his lack of playing time, he’s a freak of nature at the position, running a 4.3 40-yard dash at 6’5”. He also led the country in yards per reception, with 25.4. In the sixth round, the Raiders took JJ Pegues, a defensive lineman from Ole Miss. What makes this pick so special is that JJ Pegues was originally a tight end in college before switching to defensive tackle. At Ole Miss, he would occasionally line up in the backfield as a rusher in short yardage situations. The possibility of putting a 300-pound fullback to shore up a hole for Ashton Jeanty will have Pete Carroll salivating.  

6. Arizona Cardinals 

The Arizona Cardinals were the team to finally stop the slide of Will Johnson. Johnson was originally a top ten pick at cornerback before injury concerns plummeted his draft stock. Prior to taking Will Johnson in the second round, however, the Cardinals took Walter Nolen, a dominant interior force. With this pick, the Cardinals defensive line got instantly better. Nolen can anchor the middle while Baron Browning and newly acquired Josh Sweat will rush the edge. Jordan Burch, Arizona’s third round selection, will also be added to this edge rushing group. The Cardinals then added to their linebacker unit with Cody Simon, a Mike linebacker who has solid run defense instincts but can be a liability in coverage. Most importantly, however, Simon gives head coach Jonathan Gannon a versatile piece on defense. The Cards grabbed a fifth-round steal in Denzel Burke and a seventh-round steal in Kitan Crawford. I believe both Crawford and Burke will be full-time starters on Gannon’s defense in years to come.  

5. New York Jets 

The Jets had a solid offseason, giving Justin Fields a two-year deal and making him their next starting quarterback. To support their signing, they drafted Armand Membou seventh overall. Membou is the most athletic tackle in the draft class; he ran a 4.91 40-yard dash, and 31 reps on the bench press. Combine this with his proven experience at right tackle and he will be a long-term option on the Jets offensive line. The Jets then took Mason Taylor, the tight end from LSU. Taylor displayed fluid routes and great hands at LSU and will be a promising weapon for Justin Fields. Azareye’h Thomas fell into New York’s lap at pick 73, and some even gave Thomas a first round grade. Gang Green then followed up with Arian Smith, another wide receiver weapon for Fields in the fourth and Malachi Moore in the fifth. Malachi Moore can slide in behind Andre Cisco and Isaiah Oliver on a subpar safety room and fight for a starting role. They finished up their draft with the replacement for linebacker C.J. Mosley, Francisco Mauigoa, and rotational edge piece in Tyler Baron. With these new pieces on defense, first-year head coach Aaron Glenn should have a start on turning the franchise around.  

4. Seattle Seahawks 

Seattle had a drafting masterclass. They entered the draft needing offensive line help and more passing weapons for new quarterback Sam Darnold and left with that and much more. The Seahawks took Grey Zabel in the first round, a surefire starter on a weak Seattle interior offensive line. Then, when Nick Emmanwori, an athletic freak of a safety, was still on the board at pick 35, they traded with the Titans to find the perfect running mate next to Julian Love. Seattle then brought in a quality tight end with Elijah Arroyo. Arroyo is a willing blocker and can naturally find soft spots in zones. Arroyo played for Mario Cristobal in Miami, who prioritized blocking effort, and Arroyo’s skills in this sense apply directly to the NFL level. With my favorite pick of the Seahawks draft, they took Jalen Milroe in the third. Milroe is a quarterback with elite level athleticism and is an even better runner than Lamar Jackson. He does have accuracy issues, so letting him sit behind Darnold for a while will set up the Seahawks with a dominant quarterback for years to come. One of their other great picks was Bryce Cabeldue, a tackle from Kansas. Cabeldue was a four-year starter at Kansas and is a mauler in run-blocking. Finally, Ricky White was selected in the seventh round and could be a special teams ace for the Seahawks. He blocked four punts in the 2024 season, as well as being an effective jammer against gunners on punt returns. Although he might go unnoticed, White highlights effort and hard work, and could be a positive locker room presence in Seattle.  

3. Baltimore Ravens 

Plain and simple, some of the best players in the draft fell into the laps of the Baltimore Ravens. Malaki Starks is the consensus best safety in the class, and the Ravens can now pair him up with arguably the best safety in the league in Kyle Hamilton. Mike Green fell to the Ravens in the second round, where character concerns draft stock to tank. Prior to his draft stock falling, however, he was mocked as high as eight overall to the Panthers. Not to mention edge rusher is already a position of need for the Ravens. In the third round, the Ravens added Emery Jones Jr, a potential swing lineman for Baltimore. Jones Jr wasn’t a flashy pick, but addressed a position of need and good teams are always bolstering the trenches. Teddye Buchanan was selected in the fourth round to be a potential starter opposite Roquan Smith, filling a Patrick Queen-esque role. Then, Baltimore filled areas of need. The bottom of their draft wasn’t as good as other teams, but the pure talent at the top is what put the Ravens so high on my list. I don’t even think simulated mock drafts could give the Ravens the three-round haul they had.  

2. New York Giants 

As much as I wanted to put the Giants at the number one spot, the season hasn’t started, and we haven’t seen Jaxson Dart. If Jaxson Dart becomes the G-Men’s next franchise quarterback, I’ll have no issue putting this draft at the best, but until then, number two it is. Abdul Carter at third overall was the right pick, and now NFC East offensive lines will have to suffer. Apparently, Kayvon Thibodeaux, Dexter Lawrence, Brian Burns and now Abdul Carter wasn’t enough for the Giants because they took Darius Alexander at the top of the third round. The Giants have solidified themselves as the best defensive line in the entire NFL with those two picks alone. Following that, they took Cam Skattebo, a run-through-your-face powerback who compliments Tyrone Tracy’s running style quite well. And the icing on the cake was taking Marcus Mbow at 154 overall. His addition will make New York’s offensive line instantly better, and a player of his ability being available in the fifth round is a gem. The Giants beefed up their secondary in free agency with the signings of Jevon Holland and Paulson Adebo, creating a strong back half of the defense. With Bobby Okereke holding down the linebacker position, this new-look Giants defense could surprise a lot of people. 

1. New England Patriots 

I would consider the Patriots and Giants drafts 1a and 1b. I did give New England the edge because they didn’t need a quarterback and therefore didn’t lose picks trading up. I applaud New Yorks efforts to move up; sometimes you take the risks to get your guy. But New England didn’t have to do that and that gives them an advantage when it comes to drafting. They took a monster in the trenches in Will Campbell with the fourth overall pick. They followed that up with Treveyon Henderson in the second round, one of the most electric and elusive backs in the very deep 2025 draft class. New England selected Kyle Williams in the third round, giving Drake Maye a very capable WR3 behind Stefon Diggs and Kayshon Boutte. At the end of the third round, the Patriots drafted Jared Wilson, a center who ran a 4.84 40-yard dash at the combine, proving just freakishly athletic he is. Once again, the Patriots are supporting their young quarterback with pieces. Finally, they rounded out their draft taking young talent at valued picks. Joshua Farmer is a solid defensive tackle and a relatively good pick where he fell in the draft. Bradyn Swinson was incredible value in the fifth round. Finally, the Patriots drafted Julian Ashby, a long snapper coming to replace the last remnant of the Tom Brady Era, Joe Cardona.