Live 2024 NFL Draft Grades: Round 4

These Live 2024 NFL Draft Grades will be posted minutes after each pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Follow @walterfootball for updates.

2024 NFL Draft Grades - Round: Picks 1-16 | Picks 17-32 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | NFL Draft Team Grades

Carolina Panthers: Ja’Tavion Sanders, TE, Texas – A Grade
How long has it been since the Panthers have possessed a talented tight end? It’s been so long, but Ja’Tavion Sanders will finally fill that need. He could have easily gone early in the third round, so I love this value. It’s never a bad thing to give Bryce Young another weapon.

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Denver Broncos: Troy Franklin, WR, Oregon – A+ Grade
What a steal! Troy Franklin easily could have gone in the second round. The Broncos are getting a steal, all while filling a need to replace Jerry Jeudy. Even better, Franklin gets to keep playing with his college quarterback. Definitely an A+ pick!
New England Patriots: Layden Robinson, G, Texas A&M – A Grade
Teams are off to a great start to begin Day 3. The Patriots need to protect Drake Maye because their offensive line has been so dreadful lately. I’ve had Layden Robinson slotted on Day 2 of my mock draft, so I love this value.
Arizona Cardinals: Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, S, Texas Tech – D Grade
The Cardinals are having a rough draft. This is another underwhelming pick. Dadrion Taylor-Demerson is a late-round prospect who projects as a career special-teamer. This pick could have been made in the sixth round.
Los Angeles Chargers: Justin Eboigbe, DT, Alabama – B+ Grade
The Chargers needed to add help to their defensive line, as I had them drafting Kris Jenkins in the second round. They finally address the need with someone who could have gone in the third frame. Justin Eboigbe is limited athletically, but he’s a rock-solid player.
Tennessee Titans: Cedric Gray, LB, North Carolina – B+ Grade
The Titans really need a linebacker, as Kenneth Murray is projected to start right now. Cedric Gray is an instinctive linebacker, so he could take Murray’s job sooner rather than later. I had him in the third round of my mock on occasion, so I like the value.
New York Giants: Theo Johnson, TE, Penn State – B Grade
It sounds like Darren Waller will retire this offseason, so the Giants really needed to find a tight end. Theo Johnson is a solid prospect who makes sense as a fourth-round prospect. This is a solid pick to help Daniel Jones even more.
Minnesota Vikings: Khyree Jackson, CB, Oregon – B- Grade
Khyree Jackson would have been a second-day selection if he didn’t have any problems. He’s a massive cornerback, but has some character concerns. There’s major potential here, but added risk as well.
Atlanta Falcons: Brandon Dorlus, DT, Oregon – A+ Grade
The Falcons need to find as many talented defensive linemen as possible. Brandon Dorlus is definitely talented, as he’s someone I consistently had on Day 2 of my mock draft. This is a steal.
New England Patriots: Javon Baker, WR, Central Florida – B Grade
I can’t hate on any pick that gives Drake Maye a weapon. Javon Baker is probably best served as a fifth-rounder, but I can buy him in the fourth. New England has nothing at receiver, so adding another one without reaching is a solid move.
Green Bay Packers: Evan Williams, S, Oregon – B Grade
The Packers needed to add a safety even after signing Xavier McKinney. Evan Williams is a fourth-round prospect, so the range makes sense for Evan Williams, who can start on special teams.
Las Vegas Raiders: Decamerion Richardson, CB, Mississippi State – B Grade
Decamerion Richardson is a very raw prospect, but he possesses great upside and athleticism. I like taking a risk like this here to fill a major need at cornerback.
Baltimore Ravens: Devontez Walker, WR, North Carolina – A+ Grade
The Ravens always seem to get some steals in the draft, and this is another one. Devontez Walker is someone who easily could have been chosen toward the end of Round 2. He fills a need for the Ravens, who don’t have much at wideout aside from Zay Flowers.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Javon Foster, OT, Missouri – C Grade
This is a reach, as Javon Foster was seen as a late third-day pick. He’s very limited athletically, though he’s coming off a solid year for Missouri last year. I don’t hate the Jaguars finding more protection for Trevor Lawrence.
Cincinnati Bengals: Erick All, TE, Iowa – B+ Grade
Another Iowa tight end is never a bad thing. The Bengals haven’t had much talent at the position since the Tyler Eifert days, so I’m sure Joe Burrow will like having an improved weapon over the middle of the field.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Jordan Jefferson, DT, LSU – B Grade
The Jaguars love these LSU defensive tackles. Jordan Jefferson isn’t as good as Maason Smith, obviously, but he doesn’t have the same injury issues. Jefferson is a solid Round 3-4 prospect who fills a need, so this is a solid pick.
Indianapolis Colts: Tanor Bortolini, G/C, Wisconsin – A+ Grade
I love this pick. The Colts can’t be making a mistake by giving the injury-prone Anthony Richardson better protection. Tanor Bortolini was a possible third-round prospect who can play guard and center.
Seattle Seahawks: Tyrice Knight, LB, UTEP – B+ Grade
The Seahawks lost so many linebackers this offseason, so it’s not a surprise to see them address the position with this pick. Tyrice Knight was a very productive player out of UTEP,a and he’s considered by some as a mid-round sleeper.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Mason McCormick, G, South Dakota State – C- Grade
I can’t hate on any pick the Steelers use to address their dreadful offensive line. However, this is a reach, as Mason McCormick was considered a sixth- or seventh-round prospect. He has some upside, but is extremely raw.
Miami Dolphins: Jaylen Wright, RB, Tennessee – MILLEN Grade
I like Jaylen Wright and thought he should have been chosen in the third round. However, why would the Dolphins surrender a third-round pick to acquire him. They have a solid running back stable, so they didn’t need to give up an important resource like this.
Seattle Seahawks: A.J. Barner, TE, Michigan – B Grade
The Seahawks lost a couple of tight ends this offseason, as two of them inexplicably signed gargantuan contracts elsewhere. Here’s a cheap replacement. A.J. Barner makes sense as a fourth-round prospect as a solid Y-tight end prospect for the NFL.
Chicago Bears: Tory Taylor, P, Iowa – MILLEN Grade
Punters grow on trees. You can find a good one anywhere, including some back alley in the slums. Wasting a fourth-round pick on a punter is irresponsible, especially when the drafting team has only four picks!
Houston Texans: Cade Stover, TE, Ohio State – B- Grade
The Texans moved up four spots for a tight end. This doesn’t address a need, but Cade Stover is a solid receiving tight end. His blocking is not very good, but he can be a weapon for C.J. Stroud, albeit at a crowded position.
San Francisco 49ers: Malik Mustapha, S, Wake Forest – C- Grade
This is an underwhelming pick by the 49ers, as Malik Mustapha projects as a career backup and a potential core special-teamer. The 49ers could have made this or a similar pick two rounds later.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Bucky Irving, RB, Oregon – B+ Grade
Bucky Irving could have gone a bit earlier than this, so I like the value for the Buccaneers. The pick makes sense as well. Bucky Irving is a shifty and quick runner who can compete for early-down snaps with Rachaad White, who is a terrific receiver but a mediocre runner.
Detroit Lions: Giovanni Manu, OT, British Columbia – MILLEN Grade
Sorry, Lions fans, for giving you a Millen grade, but this isn’t the best selection. Giovanni Manu is a late-round prospect, so had Detroit made this pick a round later, I wouldn’t have minded it. However, surrendering a third-round pick in 2025 to get him is a huge mistake. A huge, kielbasa type of mistake.
Philadelphia Eagles: Will Shipley, RB, Clemson – A Grade
Will Shipley had some third-round consideration, so the Eagles are getting a good value after trading down. It’s not a surprise that they drafted a running back, given that Saquon Barkley has an extensive injury history. Shipley is an efficient runner who can be a solid receiver out of the backfield.
Buffalo Bills: Ray Davis, RB, Kentucky – B+ Grade
Ray Davis is a tough, physical back who can catch passes well, so he complements James Cook well. This is a solid move for the Bills, as Ray Davis could have been chosen 20-30 picks earlier without any complaints, and he fills a need.
San Francisco 49ers: Isaac Guerendo, RB, Louisville – C+ Grade
Wow, what a total shocker that Kyle Shanahan used a mid-round pick on a running back! I don’t think the 49ers needed to trade up for Isaac Guerendo, but they’re getting an under-the-radar prospect. Guerendo is a big back who tested much faster than some people thought. We had him around this fourth-round range.
Baltimore Ravens: T.J. Tampa, CB, Iowa State – A+ Grade
Another steal for the Ravens. What a shocker! T.J. Tampa could have been selected in the second round without any complaints, yet the Ravens are getting him toward the end of the fourth. And if that wasn’t enough, Baltimore is filling a huge need.
Kansas City Chiefs: Jared Wiley, TE, TCU – B Grade
A future replacement for Travis Kelce? Jared Wiley was a very productive and greatly sized player from TCU. Dr. Wiley makes sense late in the fourth round, so this is a decent pick all around.
Detroit Lions: Sione Vaki, S, Utah – C Grade
I don’t think the Lions needed to trade up for Sione Vaki, who fits the range as a fourth-round prospect. Vaki is just a mediocre prospect, but he does fill a need, as Detroit needed to find more help for the secondary.
Kansas City Chiefs: Jaden Hicks, S, Washington State – A+ Grade
What a great value here for the Chiefs at the end of the fourth round. Jaden Hicks is a play-making safety prospect who easily could have gone in the second round. Adding more talent to the secondary makes sense, given all the great passing offenses in the AFC.
New York Jets: Braelon Allen, RB, Wisconsin – B Grade
The Jets needed a backup running back, given that Breece Hall isn’t too far removed from his torn ACL. Braelon Allen should complement Hall well, as Allen is a huge back who can also catch passes well.
San Francisco 49ers: Jacob Cowing, WR, Arizona – B+ Grade
A second receiver to the 49ers makes sense, given some impending trades at the position. Jacob Cowing is a very fast receiver with upside who makes sense here at the end of the fourth round.