BY ETHAN ESTRADA
NFC NORTH
Chicago Bears (Grade F): The Bears could not have drafted any worse this year. They made a huge mistake in trading up one spot to take QB Mitch Trubisky. Although Trubisky was arguably the best QB in the draft, they gave up a ton of draft picks to move up one spot.He probably would have still been available at pick three, their original spot. While their second pick should have been used on an eventual starter, the Bears picked TE Adam Shaheen, an extremely raw player who didn’t even excel at the small school he played in. By giving up so many picks, they couldn’t draft as many players to help contribute and help Trubisky when they eventually put him in the game. Sorry, Bears fans, your season is almost destined to fail.
Detroit Lions (Grade C+): The Lions needed help at the linebacker position, and they filled it with LB Jarrad Davis in the first round. LB Reuben Foster was still on the board. They made a mistake in not taking Foster. They made up for their first round mishap with a second round pick of CB Teez Tabor. He may be limited in the NFL due to his speed, but other than that, he’s a good corner.
Green Bay Packers (Grade B-) : The Packers decided to trade out of the first round, and still addressed the need of corner by taking CB Kevin King. Although King is a little undersized, he is still a good cover corner who will compete with the best receivers. Another need was at the running back position, which they addressed later in the draft with Jamaal Williams and Aaron Jones.
Minnesota Vikings (Grade B): The Vikings were able to replace RB Adrian Peterson with second round pick RB Dalvin Cook. They got a shifty playmaker and a steal in the second round. Cook may be able to become the best running back in this years draft, but only time will tell. The Vikings also drafted C Pat Elflein, as he can develop into a starting center in the NFL with some good O-line coaching.
NFC SOUTH
Atlanta Falcons (Grade A): DE Takkarist McKinley is arguably the best pass rusher in the draft, but had injuries coming out of college. The Falcons added many supplemental players to an already good roster.
Carolina Panthers (Grade C+): The Panthers had a decent draft. They filled some holes at running back with Christian McCaffrey, and at slot receiver with Curtis Samuel, but I think these players were overvalued and drafted too high. McCaffrey deserves a first round pick, but not in the top ten. He was a mid to late first rounder, and Curtis Samuel definitely was not worth a second round pick. He was a third rounder for sure, considering WR JuJu Smith-Schuster was still on the board. There were far more valuable players the Panthers could have gotten with their picks. Better luck next year, Panthers fans.
New Orleans Saints (Grade A): The Saints had to fill a need for their secondary after free agency left it sparse. They did exactly that in the draft by picking up one of the best corners in this years draft with Marshon Lattimore, and they also helped fill a need at safety with Marcus Williams. They were almost last in the league last year in pass defense, but these picks should help that aspect of their defense tremendously. They also added O-line help with OT Ryan Ramczyk. This pick will help keep Drew Brees on his feet and will extend their window for a Super Bowl. Another great pick up was third round steal RB Alvin Kamara, a solid underrated running back that will develop into a decent starter for the Saints.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Grade B): The Bucs added some major firepower with TE O.J. Howard, the number one tight end in the draft. They now have a scary and dynamic offense if everyone can stay healthy. They also added FS Justin Evans, as he will be able to contribute to the defense since day one. A very solid draft.
NFC WEST
Arizona Cardinals (Grade B): The Cardinals picked two defensive studs in LB Haason Reddick and FS Budda Baker. They will contribute majorly to this defense, which was a disappointment last year. They also added some depth at O-line with OG Dorian Johnson and OT Will Holden. If you’re a Cardinals fan, you can say that you had a decent draft that will help in the future. The only thing the Cardinals didn’t address was a new QB to develop behind the aging Carson Palmer.
Los Angeles Rams (Grade C-): The Rams desperately needed O-line help and wide receiver threats this off-season. They picked up TE Gerald Everett, but last year they selected TE Tyler Higbee, so taking Everett here doesn’t make sense. However, they did take a wide out in the third round with Cooper Kupp. He will need some developing, but could turn into a role player on the team.
San Francisco 49ers (Grade B+): John Lynch’s first season as a general manager almost went perfectly. He was able to steal four picks from the Bears. In the first round, they added two studs for their defense, DE Solomon Thomas and LB Reuben Foster. These two players will help become cornerstones in their franchise and will contribute a ton. The only pick that the 49ers missed on was their third round pick, QB C.J. Beathard. At best, he will become a decent backup in the NFL, and there were still potential starters at QB on board like Joshua Dobbs and Chad Kelly.
Seattle Seahawks (Grade C): Trading out of the first round, the Seahawks took DL Malik McDowell in the second round. They really needed O-line help to protect Russell Wilson. OG Forest Lamp was still on the board at this time, and they should have taken him. They took care of their center position with C Ethan Pocic later in the second round. There was nothing too special about the Seahawks draft except that they left some good players on the board.
NFC EAST
Dallas Cowboys (Grade A): The Cowboys had lost almost their entire secondary in the off-season and were still looking for a defensive end that will boost the pass rush. First round pick DE Taco Charlton will definitely help the pass rush, and second round pick CB Chidobe Awuzie is a first round talent that somehow slid to the end of the second. They also picked up smooth cover corner Jordan Lewis and sixth round steal FS Xavier Woods. This great draft filled all the needs and picked up a few project players that Marinelli can develope.
New York Giants (Grade B+): The Giants missed out on a great, highly athletic tight end Njoku. Instead, they chose to spend their first round pick on TE Evan Engram. He’s not a bad tight end, but Njoku was just a better pick. Other than that, the Giants may have picked up this year’s Dak Prescott in third rounder QB Davis Webb. He will have time to develop behind Eli Manning, and when he eventually retires, he will hopefully be able to take over. Another good pick was DL Dalvin Tomlinson. He will be able to help out on day one, and the Giants got a great value here.
Philadelphia Eagles (Grade B): The Eagles reached on DE Derek Barnett at pick number fourteen. They should have traded back to add more picks and still would have been able to get him at around pick 20. Other than that, the Eagles had a pretty good draft. They got a steal at the second round for one of WCHS’ own Sidney Jones due to his Achilles tear. They also added some good running back depth with Donnel Pumphrey.
Washington Redskins (Grade A): The Redskins might have gotten the steal of first round with DL Jonathan Allen with the seventeenth pick. He will immediately have an impact on the Redskins’ defense. They also got a great value in CB Fabian Moreau. He has a high ceiling and will be able to contribute early in this defense. The Redskins absolutely nailed this draft because they added a lot of depth and some solid players that can contribute from the start of the season.
