2025 NFL Draft Team Grades

These are 2025 NFL Draft Team Grades. I’ll be posting them throughout Sunday. Follow @walterfootball for updates.

2025 NFL Draft Grades - Round: Picks 1-16 | Picks 17-32 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | NFL Draft Team Grades

Tennessee Titans: B+ Grade

Goals Entering the 2025 NFL Draft: The Titans are rebuilding with their new coaching staff. They will be drafting Cam Ward at No. 1 overall. They must give him a viable second weapon to pair with Calvin Ridley, as well as an offensive line upgrade in the interior. Aside from that, they should be focusing on their defense, which couldn’t stop anyone last year and will now be worse without Harold Landry. Edge rusher, linebacker, and cornerback are all glaring weaknesses.

2025 NFL Draft Accomplishments: To no one’s surprise, the Titans selected Ward first overall. The question was if the front office would surround Ward with the required talent he’d need to thrive. The Titans used their next two picks on defense, but then focused on offense during the third day. They drafted multiple receivers, including Elic Ayomanor, who was a steal. Gunnar Helm should also be a good weapon over the middle of the field.

Defensively, the 49ers added an edge rusher (Olu Oladejo) and a safety (Kevin Winston), both of whom will help the defense. Only one other defender was picked later in the draft, but that’s OK because Tennessee needed to improve Ward’s supporting cast.

The Titans did a good job overall. They accomplished theri goals, and only one of their picks scored worse than a B-.

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Cleveland Browns: A- Grade

Goals Entering the 2025 NFL Draft: The Browns don’t have a viable quarterback for the 2025 season, so they’ll need to find one at some point. They plan on drafting Travis Hunter or Abdul Carter at No. 2 overall, so they’ll have to find their next signal-caller with their next selection. The Browns also need to find a backfield partner for this new quarterback, given that Nick Chubb is gone. Jedrick Wills is gone as well, so Cleveland must acquire a new left tackle to protect its next passer.

2025 NFL Draft Accomplishments: What a roller coaster ride for Cleveland fans. Things looked great to start when the Browns traded down three spots, and yet picked up first- and second-round picks in exchange. Cleveland looked incredibly intelligent for once, ultimately securing Mason Graham at No. 5.

The Browns continued their positive momentum atop Round 2. They had some nice selections with Carson Schwesinger and Quinshon Judkins. They passed on Shedeur Sanders, but were able to at least obtain quality prospects. Then, disaster struck. Rather then snatching Sanders at No. 94, the Browns opted for Dillon Gabriel instead. Gabriel is a late-round prospect who doesn’t have NFL tools. The Browns became the laughing stock of the 2025 NFL Draft.

Somehow, Sanders fell to the Browns at No. 144. They turned things around, drafting Sanders. It took a while, but they finally landed the quarterback they should have taken all along.

If you told me before the 2025 NFL Draft that the Browns would obtain Mason Graham, Shedeur Sanders, Carson Schwesinger, and Quinshon Judkins, I would have given them an A+. And I will still grade them favorably. They must be downgraded for the Gabriel debacle, however.

New York Giants: B+ Grade

Goals Entering the 2025 NFL Draft: The Giants need a franchise quarterback, but their front office is in a lame-duck situation, so it may not address the position in this draft until the middle rounds. Given this odd situation, Giants ownership should have fired everyone involved. Nevertheless, the Giants have a miserable roster that is lacking talent in many places. They need to obtain the best player available with every pick.

2025 NFL Draft Accomplishments: Everyone expected the Abdul Carter selection, so let’s discuss Jaxson Dart. It was an odd pick by the front office because a losing season will probably mean that there will be new people in charge next year, so logic would dicatate that ownership weighed in on the decision. Either way, it was a mistake to trade up for Dart when the Giants could have traded down and obtained Shedeur Sanders, or perhaps even Dart himself.

Aside from the Dart mishap, the Giants had a great draft. Excluding the Dart pick, all of their selections in the first six rounds all earned A- grades or better. And even their two seventh-round choices scored B+ grades. Cam Skattebo and Marcus Mbow were terrible values in the middle rounds.

If the Giants hadn’t panicked by trading up for Dart, they would have earned an “A” for their draft class. They must be downgraded for the decision, but they had a great draft class otherwise.

New England Patriots: A Grade

Goals Entering the 2025 NFL Draft: The Patriots must focus all of their energy addressing the offense. Drake Maye showed potential as a rookie, but he was surrounded with miserable talent. New England needs multiple offensive line upgrades, a No. 1 receiver, and a backfield partner for Rhamondre Stevenson.

2025 NFL Draft Accomplishments: The Patriots were lauded for their draft class by the media. While the talking heads on TV are often wrong, it seems as though this is an exception.

The first thing I looked at when dissecting New England’s overall class was how many picks were used to help Drake Maye. The Patriots correctly realized that they needed to help Maye, with their first four selections used on the supporting cast. Two offensive linemen, a receiver, and a running back were obtained, and every pick scored a B+ or higher.

The Patriots reversed their strategy after that, focusing on their poor defense. Most of their picks were good, save for the Craig Woodson selection at No. 106. Woodson was considered a UDFA prospect, so drafting him atop Round 4 was bizarre. Still, that was the only poor selection the Patriots made, so they can be forgiven for that.

Jacksonville Jaguars: B- Grade

Goals Entering the 2025 NFL Draft: Trevor Lawrence has failed to finish the past two seasons, so protecting him is the greatest priority. The Jaguars must find tons of upgrades on the defensive side of the ball as well. They’ve had one of the worst defenses in the NFL over the past couple of years, so improvement is needed at every level.

2025 NFL Draft Accomplishments: The Jaguars made a blockbuster deal to start the draft, trading up to No. 2 overall. They moved up three spots, yet surrendered first- and second-round picks to do so, which seems to be too expensive for a non-quarterback. However, they are getting a potential unicorn in Travis Hunter, who will be able to play both wide receiver and cornerback. He had great success doing this at Colorado. Whether it translates to the NFL remains to be seen.

While I didn’t like the trade itself, the rest of Jacksonville’s draft class looks rather strong from a grading perspective. Only one grade scored worse than a “B,” and that was a B-.

However, there’s one fundamental thing wrong with the Jaguars’ haul, and that would be that they failed to upgrade the offensive line on multiple occasions. They drafted the versatile Wyatt Milum, but that was the only resource they spent on their blocking in the first six rounds. While Lawrence will have a superior option opposite Brian Thomas Jr., he may not survive the season because of the shoddy blocking.

Las Vegas Raiders: C Grade

Goals Entering the 2025 NFL Draft: The Raiders made a strange decision to trade for Geno Smith this offseason. Given what they did, it’s apparent that they believe they can compete for the division right now, so they’ll need to find the best players available to help them do that. They have no viable running back or a No. 1 receiver. Their offensive line and secondary are both sorely in need of upgrades as well.

2025 NFL Draft Accomplishments: The Raiders selected the best running back in the 2025 NFL Draft class, but that doesn’t mean it was a good decision. There were so many talented running backs available in the second round, so logic dictates that it was smart to wait on a runner. The Raiders disagreed, drafting Jeanty only to help Pete Carroll’s son, who is the running game coordinator on the Raiders. Drafting based on nepotism doesn’t seem like the best strategy.

The Raiders’ draft class didn’t improve following the Jeanty pick. I loved the Carlos Rogers selection, but that was the only one that scored above a B+. The Raiders had four choices that were “C” or worse, as they reached often throughout the weekend. The Raiders also made the mistake of passing on Shedeur Sanders repeatedly when he would have been a great option to groom behind Geno Smith.

This was not a great draft from the Raiders. It wasn’t terrible, but it was rather underwhelming.

New York Jets: A Grade

Goals Entering the 2025 NFL Draft: The Jets have quickly flipped from win-now mode to rebuilding for the future. It would be great if they could somehow find their quarterback of the future with their second selection. They also need to address the trenches, as their pass protection and pass rush are both very shaky. Finding another weapon for their next signal-caller is imperative as well.

2025 NFL Draft Accomplishments: The Jets had their potential quarterback of the future fall right into their laps in the second round, but they were one of many quarterback-needy teams to pass on Shedeur Sanders. I believe this to be a mistake. Fortunately for the Jets, they otherwise put together a strong draft class.

New York’s first five picks all scored A- or higher, and all seven of their selections earned at least a B+. While the Jets didn’t draft a potential franchise quarterback, they at least found support for whomever that may be in the future with outstanding blocking from Armand Membou, and talented skill players like Mason Taylor and Arian Smith. The Jets also acquired two promising prospects for their secondary. Their final two choices should help them put more pressure on Josh Allen.

The only way this draft would have been better for the Jets is if they managed to obtain a quarterback. This is why I’m not awarding them with an A+, but they did a great job overall.

Carolina Panthers: C Grade

Goals Entering the 2025 NFL Draft: The Panthers arguably have the worst roster in the NFL. Their defense ranked 32nd overall last year, as the team couldn’t generate pressure on the quarterback or stop the run, so many upgrades are needed on that side of the ball. The offense was better, but only by default. The Panthers lack a true No. 1 receiver and a decent center. There’s also the question of Bryce Young being the answer, but with so many other needs, addressing the quarterback situation will have to wait.

2025 NFL Draft Accomplishments: Carolina apparently did not agree that its defense was horrific last year because it spent four of its eight picks on that side of the ball. This includes two of its initial four picks. The Panthers’ initial choice was used on Tetairoa McMillan, who might satisfy the No. 1 need if his reported work ethic issues don’t present a problem.

The Panthers rebounded with two strong picks following the controversial McMillan selection, snatching two promising pass rushers in Nic Sourton and Princely Umanmeilen on Day 2. However, the team squandered too many opportunities on Saturday. The Panthers wasted three picks, spending them on a running back, tight end, and another receiver. These draft choices would have been better served attacking the defense.

This was not a great draft for the Panthers. It doesn’t really feel like they improved their roster much despite having the No. 8 overall selection and picks in all three rounds of the first two days of the draft. They came away with some decent players, but they certainly did not make a move to surpass the Buccaneers or Falcons.

New Orleans Saints: B- Grade

Goals Entering the 2025 NFL Draft: The Saints’ plans radically changed in the wake of the Derek Carr news. Carr may miss all of 2025, so the Saints finally find themselves in rebuild mode, which should have been the case years ago. The team will likely give Spencer “The Silver Snake” Rattler a chance to prove himself, so quarterback can wait until next year if the Silver Snake fails. In the meantime, the Saints must address the trenches. Their offensive line is in shambles, while their pass rush was very lackluster last year. Cornerback also happens to be a big position of need.

2025 NFL Draft Accomplishments: Kellen Moore made it very clear that he’s not a believer in “the Silver Snake” by using a second-round pick on Tyler Shough despite Shedeur Sanders being available. Shough has great tools, but he’s old and has never put them together on a consistent basis. Perhaps Moore can get the most out of him. Either way, I can understand why the Saints took a gamble on Shough, though I am not as bullish on the decision.

I’m more optimistic about the Saints’ ability to protect Shough. That’s because they used the ninth-overall pick on Kelvin Banks. The Texas lineman will start at left tackle, allowing Tallies Fuaga to move to his more natural right tackle spot. Having a talented duo of tackles will give Shough the best chance to develop.

While the Saints didn’t find any new weapons for Shough until the final rounds, they at least tried to strengthen the defense. I wasn’t very high on Vernon Broughton and Jonas Sanker, but the Saints made better value choices as the weekend progressed.

I’d say New Orleans came away with a mediocre class. It will largely hinge on Shough’s success, so any believer in Shough will be higher on the Saints than this publication.

Chicago Bears: B Grade

Goals Entering the 2025 NFL Draft: Caleb Williams had some bright moments as a rookie, but those were overshadowed by some embarrassing situations, namely the collapses at the end of the Thanksgiving game and the Thursday night battle versus the Seahawks. Chicago responded by hiring Ben Johnson and finding three upgrades on the offensive line. The Bears are set up for a better 2025 campaign, but they need to replace Keenan Allen and spend multiple upgrades on a weak defensive line. Improving Williams’ supporting cast is paramount.

2025 NFL Draft Accomplishments: I can’t say I was a big fan of the Colston Loveland selection. Drafting Loveland, who may not have even been the best tight end on the board, felt like a luxury on a team one piece away from a Super Bowl would make. The Bears already had Cole Kmet, and while they could run two-tight end formations, the front office could have made more helpful selections elsewhere.

The Bears rebounded from the Loveland pick with two outstanding Day 2 choices. Luther Burden and Ozzy Trapilo were both stellar values who should be able to help Caleb Williams. With all of this new weaponry and blocking, there won’t be any excuses for Williams next year.

Despite a strong second day, the Bears didn’t draft very well on Saturday. They reached and wasted two picks, and they had just one selection that scored higher than a “B” on Day 3.

Overall, Chicago did a fine job in this draft. There were definitely some whiffs, but the team strengthened Williams’ support system, which was the primary goal.

San Francisco 49ers: C Grade

Goals Entering the 2025 NFL Draft: The 49ers lost tons of talent this offseason, namely at wide receiver, guard, defensive end, defensive tackle, linebacker, and safety. All of these positions must be addressed. In general, it would be best for San Francisco to draft the top player available because if Christian McCaffrey can return to full strength, the team will have a great chance of making the playoffs, given how ridiculously easy the schedule is.

2025 NFL Draft Accomplishments: The 49ers had a golden opportunity to draft the best player available when Tyler Warren and Jalon Walker fell to them when they slipped out of the top 10. Instead, they settled for Mykell Williams. While Williams should be an effective pass rusher for them, it was disappointing to see the front office pass on top talent.

The rest of San Francisco’s draft class was equally underwhelming. The 49ers made 11 draft selections, and yet none of them scored higher than a B+. Two of the grades were a C-, and there was even a dreaded Millen (F) grade when the 49ers used a pick on a UDFA talent at No. 138 overall.

The one good thing that can be said about the 49ers’ draft class as that the team largely focused on the important positions. The top two choices were used to address the defensive line, while other early selections addressed other weak areas of the defense. The offensive line, however, was neglected until late on Saturday.

This draft class echoes the rest of San Francisco’s offseason. The 49ers disappointed their fans with what transpired in free agency, and the draft was just a continuation of that.

Dallas Cowboys: C+ Grade

Goals Entering the 2025 NFL Draft: The Cowboys need offensive weapons. Their running back situation is awful, and they have nothing at receiver beyond CeeDee Lamb. They also must bolster their offensive line, which has gotten much weaker in recent years. Dallas has some defensive issues as well, but it must really focus on strengthening the talent around Dak Prescott.

2025 NFL Draft Accomplishments: Jerry Jones apparently didn’t get the memo that his team was devoid of play-making talent outside of CeeDee Lamb. He failed to secure a skill player until the fifth round, and he didn’t draft a single receiver. He even had the top tight end in the draft fall to him at No. 12, but opted for a guard who was expected to be chosen in the 20s.

While Tyler Booker provided no value with the 12th pick, the Cowboys were able to land some terrific bargains on Day 2 to fill some needs on defense. Also, Jaydon Blue, chosen in the fifth round, could emerge as the starting running back, thanks to his game-breaking speed.

There’s no doubt that the Cowboys came away with some talented prospects. However, their inability to address their top needs – namely failing to draft a single receiver – has to downgrade their overall grade.

Miami Dolphins: B+ Grade

Goals Entering the 2025 NFL Draft: Miami’s roster is in shambles. The offensive line is quite possibly the worst blocking unit in the NFL. The secondary looks to be atrocious. And the team can’t possibly have any faith in Tua Tagovailoa staying healthy, so some insurance is needed at quarterback.

2025 NFL Draft Accomplishments: The Dolphins made it a point to address the trenches. Four of their picks were spent on linemen, including the first three. Kenneth Grant began the run, as the huge Michigan nose tackle will help clamp down on the run and rush the passer. Miami’s next selection was used to help improve the blocking.

The Dolphins had a strong draft overall, though they made a couple of mistakes. First, while Ollie Gordon provided tremendous value in the sixth round, Miami should have continued to address the many holes on the roster. Running back was considered the lowest priority. Second, Dante Trader was a reach in the fifth round.

Despite these two gaffes, the Dolphins did well in this draft. Excluding the Trader selection, all but one of Miami’s picks scored a B+ or higher, and the lone exception earned a “B.”

Indianapolis Colts: A- Grade

Goals Entering the 2025 NFL Draft: Anthony Richardson’s steep decline last year presents a big issue for the Colts, but they’re stuck with him and Daniel Jones for now. They should do everything in their power to make sure one of those young quarterbacks succeeds, so upgrading the offensive line and tight end makes a lot of sense. The Colts also need some help on defense, primarily at cornerback and linebacker.

2025 NFL Draft Accomplishments: Indianapolis found its tight end at No. 14. The front office planned to draft Colston Loveland, so imagine its surprise when the top tight end on the board was available instead. Tyler Warren was great value at that pick.

The Colts made some solid defensive picks after that, but neglected their offensive line until the fourth round when they took a tackle for depth purposes. That was the only selection they used on a blocker.

Of the Colts’ seven picks beyond Warren, a whopping six of them scored a B+. The exception was a seventh-round pick, which earned a solid “B.” As you can see, the Colts drafted well all weekend, finding good values while filling needs.

Atlanta Falcons: A Grade

Goals Entering the 2025 NFL Draft: The Falcons seem poised for a playoff run this year, assuming that Michael Penix Jr. can build on his strong finish in 2024. However, the Falcons need to address some areas. Multiple upgrades are needed on the defensive line to ensure that the pass rush we saw at the end of the year wasn’t a fluke. Cornerback must be addressed as well.

2025 NFL Draft Accomplishments: Atlanta was widely criticized for trading away next year’s first-round pick, but after thinking about it, the move makes sense. The Falcons simply used their first-round pick in 2026 now, rather than waiting 12 months. If they’re going to be as good as everyone they believe can be, then they’ll be picking in the 20s during the 2026 NFL Draft (check out the 2026 NFL Mock Draft here.) If so, then they likely won’t be able to nab someone as good as James Pearce a year from now, given that the Falcons were comfortable drafting Pearce at No. 15.

Instead of obsessing over the misappropriation of next year’s first-round pick, those critical of the Falcons should consider what the combination of Pearce and Jalon Walker can accomplish. They could both thrive as rookies, allowing Atlanta to make great strides, defensively. Third-round steal Xavier Watts should also be able to help.

The Falcons had just five picks, but they nailed all of them. They earned four “A” grades and a “B.” And it’s rather clear that their first three picks figure to have a massive impact on how deep the Falcons venture into the playoffs this upcoming winter.

Arizona Cardinals: A Grade

Goals Entering the 2025 NFL Draft: Arizona has plenty of offensive talent, so the defense must be the focus in the 2025 NFL Draft. The Cardinals have a poor pass rush, which must be addressed despite the additions of Calais Campbell and Josh Sweat. The greatest area of need is at cornerback, which has been a problem area for many seasons.

2025 NFL Draft Accomplishments: Charlie Campbell tweeted that the Cardinals had the best class in the entire 2025 NFL Draft. Is Charlie correct? Perhaps through the first two days of the draft. Arizona’s first three picks were graded A-, A+, and A, as the front office was able to find amazing values while filling big needs on the defensive side of the ball. Will Johnson was a huge risk, but comes with unbelievable upside in the middle of the second frame. Walter Nolen has similar potential.

The Cardinals didn’t draft that well on Saturday, however. They made a couple of reaches with their two Ohio State products. Two C+ grades offer a slight alteration to the overall mark, but the front office rebounded with two solid choices to close out the day.

Overall, Arizona did great. The Cardinals certainly finished with a top-five draft class. They definitely put together an incredible haul in which their top three players – particularly Nolen and Johnson – will be able to bolster a poor defense enough to get the organization over the hump and into the playoffs.

Cincinnati Bengals: F Grade

Goals Entering the 2025 NFL Draft: Defense, defense, defense. The Bengals need a guard, but almost all of their selections must be used on the defensive side of the ball because they couldn’t stop anyone last year. Even Russell Wilson torched them down the stretch.

2025 NFL Draft Accomplishments: “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on- shame- you can’t get fooled again.” It’s truly astonishing that the Bengals were duped once again by an athletic pass rusher with no production. They recently blew a pick on Myles Murphy, and they took a very similar prospect in Shemar Stewart, who had just 4.5 sacks throughout his collegiate career despite being very gifted.

The Bengals had six selections, including the Stewart pick, and three of them scored as a “C” or worse. The Murphy grade, a “D,” was the worst one, but the Bengals, who didn’t seem quite prepared for the 2025 NFL Draft, made sketchy selections all weekend.

What’s worse is that the Bengals failed to improve their defense. Stewart is likely to bust. Demetrius Knight, the second-rounder, isn’t projected to start right away, and neither is Barrett Carter, the second linebacker chosen by the team. Cincinnati inexplicably failed to spend another resource on defense. The horrible defensive tackle and secondary situations remained unaddressed. This was an absolute failure of a draft class.

Seattle Seahawks: A+ Grade

Goals Entering the 2025 NFL Draft: The Seahawks need to make sure that Sam Darnold has the talent around him to succeed. Their offensive line is one of the worst in the entire NFL, so multiple upgrades are needed in that area. They also need some receiving options after losing DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett.

2025 NFL Draft Accomplishments: The Seahawks tried to trade down from No. 18, but like most teams in the 3-24 range, they couldn’t do so because there was no interest from other teams to move up. This was a blessing in disguise, however, as it forced Seattle to improve its horrible offensive line. The front office did so by drafting Grey Zabel, who can play every position up front.

The Zabel selection was great, and yet it wasn’t even Seattle’s best pick of the weekend. That would be the Nick Emmanwori choice atop Round 2. There wouldn’t have been any complaints had, say, the Dolphins chosen Emmanwori at No. 13 overall. The incredibly athletic safety was a huge steal at No. 35.

The Seahawks had a great draft overall. There was one pick that was graded poorly at the end of the fifth round (Robbie Ouzts), but Seattle found numerous great values and filled positions of need. The team even obtained a potential future starting quarterback in Jalen Milroe, though he’s more of a long-term project. Still, the Seahawks had one of the better draft classes in 2025.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: C Grade

Goals Entering the 2025 NFL Draft: Tom Brady was the primary reason why the Buccaneers won the Super Bowl in 2020, but the great defense also played a big part. The defense has fallen off since, so numerous upgrades are needed on that side of the ball. With just five picks prior to Round 7, the Buccaneers need to spend most of their resources bolstering the stop unit.

2025 NFL Draft Accomplishments: The Buccaneers used their 19th-overall pick as if they were some rebuilding organization. Emeka Egbuka projects to be a good receiver in the NFL, but he’ll be fourth on the depth chart this year unless there are injuries. Thanks to how poor the NFC South is, the Buccaneers are in a position to win now. They needed someone, whether it was an edge rusher or a linebacker, who could help them prevail this season. Egbuka will not do that.

Fortunately for the Buccaneers, they made up for their first-round blunder over the next two days. They obtained a nice value with Benjamin Morrison in the middle of the second frame, though Morrison has injury concerns. David Walker was also a nice bargain in the fourth round. He, Morrison, and third-rounder Jacob Parrish will potentially fill glaring defensive needs.

Despite the second and third days saving the Buccaneers, they can’t be graded favorably. Given how tight the competition is with the Falcons in the division, Tampa Bay needed to come away with a strong class that could help this year, but the Egbuka pick doesn’t allow that to happen.

Denver Broncos: C Grade

Goals Entering the 2025 NFL Draft: Sean Payton said it – his team needs to upgrade the lackluster running game. Denver’s roster is stacked, but running back and No. 2 receiver are the two glaring positions of need. With so few needs, Denver could trade up for Ashton Jeanty.

2025 NFL Draft Accomplishments: The Broncos shocked everyone when they passed on all the second-tier running backs at No. 20 and selected Jahdae Barron instead. This was the correct decision, as an upgrade at cornerback is much more impactful, especially when considering that viable running backs can be found in any round.

Denver used its next pick on a running back, though R.J. Harvey was a reach at No. 60. Wide receiver Pat Bryant was an even greater reach 14 picks later. Bryant was a sixth-round prospect at best, so it’s unclear why the Broncos used a second-day selection on him.

The Broncos made some nice choices on Saturday, particularly with their two edge rushers, Sai’Vion Jones and Que Robinson. However, they weren’t enough to make up for the two blunders Denver made on Friday night. The Broncos had great momentum from free agency, but this underwhelming draft class put that to a halt.

Pittsburgh Steelers: A Grade

Goals Entering the 2025 NFL Draft: The Steelers don’t have a quarterback, so they can end the Aaron Rodgers drama by using an early draft pick on the position. The Steelers also need a new running back to replace Najee Harris. Various parts of the defense must also be upgraded.

2025 NFL Draft Accomplishments: Most dumb ESPN viewers believed that the Steelers would draft Shedeur Sanders at No. 21 overall, but it was widely reported by accurate media personnel that Pittsburgh had no interest in the Colorado quarterback. Thus, it was no surprise to intelligent football fans that the Steelers selected a defensive tackle with their opening-round choice. Derrick Harmon is incredibly athletic and should be a good replacement for Cameron Heyward down the road.

The Steelers once again passed on Sanders, as doing so appeased Aaron Rodgers, who will likely be signing with the Steelers in the near future. Pittsburgh addressed its backfield with the next pick, but did so with a running back. Kaleb Johnson could have easily gone in the second round, so he was a steal. Pittsburgh continued to find tremendous bargains throughout the weekend, particularly with Jack Sawyer in the fourth round.

Pittsburgh didn’t land a quarterback until the sixth round, taking Will Howard there. I’m not high on Howard, but the sixth round is just about right for the national champion. I wasn’t a fan of the selection, and yet the “B” it earned was Pittsburgh’s lowest-graded pick in the first six rounds.

The Steelers had a terrific draft. The only criticism is that the front office didn’t find a more viable quarterback of the future sooner – the fourth round with Sanders or someone else would have been ideal – but there’s no doubt that this draft class will improve the roster this upcoming season.

Los Angeles Chargers: B- Grade

Goals Entering the 2025 NFL Draft: It shouldn’t surprise anyone if Jim Harbaugh addresses the offensive and defensive lines early in the 2025 NFL Draft. In addition to that, the Chargers need to find an upgrade at cornerback and the defensive line, and they also have to find multiple new receiving weapons for Justin Herbert.

2025 NFL Draft Accomplishments: The Chargers had a puzzling start to the draft. The rival Broncos, who sorely needed a running back, passed on Omarion Hampton. And yet, the Chargers, who needed a running back less because of the Najee Harris signing, took Hampton just two picks later. Drafting a running back in the opening round is often a mistake unless the prospect in question is an elite player. It’s safe to say that Hampton is not elite.

The ensuing rounds were more fruitful for the Chargers. They found some promising weapons for Justin Herbert in Tre Harris and KeAndre Lambert. The latter was a great steal in the fifth round. Some picks were also spent on the defensive line, with Jamaree Caldwell and Kyle Kennard earning B+ and A- grades, respectively.

I’d like the Chargers’ draft class much more if they didn’t bungle their initial pick. A running back there seemed unnecessary, but the team’s overall class was a decent one.

Green Bay Packers: B Grade

Goals Entering the 2025 NFL Draft: Josh Jacobs said it – the Packers need a No. 1 receiver. They could perhaps draft one with their first-round selection, assuming that Tetairoa McMillan falls to them. Defensive tackle, edge rusher, and cornerback are other positions of need that must be addressed.

2025 NFL Draft Accomplishments: It wasn’t Tetairoa McMillan who fell to the Packers, but rather Matthew Golden. The Texas product was considered to be a late riser, so it wouldn’t have surprised anyone had he gone as high as No. 12 to Dallas. Instead, he fell to the Packers, who bucked the trend of not drafting a receiver in the first round. Golden didn’t have the best production at Texas, but he had a great stretch last year. He also possesses incredible speed, which is something Green Bay was missing from its receiving corps.

Following the Golden pick, there was good news and bad news for the Packers. The good news is that there was only one pick graded worse than a “B” throughout the entire draft. The bad news is that Golden earned the only grade above a B+. The remainder of Green Bay’s draft class, save for one choice, was solid, but not spectacular. This includes the two second-day picks, with Anthony Belton and Savion Williams being fine choices to satisfy needs on the offensive line and receiving corps.

Green Bay’s overall draft class can be classified as solid, but unspectacular. Aside from Golden, nothing exciting happened, but the Packers made some upgrades and never reached.

Minnesota Vikings: B Grade

Goals Entering the 2025 NFL Draft: The Vikings have just four draft picks, so it would be in their best interest to trade down and accumulate more draft capital. Then again, they have a loaded roster without any weaknesses, so it’s not like they need the extra selections.

2025 NFL Draft Accomplishments: Minnesota tried to move down from No. 24, but no one wanted to trade up. The team eventually was able to accumulate an additional draft pick, though it used a resource to trade for Sam Howell.

As far as the actual draft picks are concerned, the Vikings landed Donovan Jackson with their first-round selection. Some would argue that this was too early for Jackson, but the Lions had interest four picks later. Kevin O’Connell asked Jackson, “How would you like to come and create the best offensive line in the NFL?” If Minnesota’s goal was to create the top blocking unit in the NFL this offseason, then it certainly has appeared to have succeeeded.

Of the other four picks, the Vikings had one “A” grade and three grades at “B” or B-. The “A” grade came via Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, a defensive tackle with loads of potential. Defensive tackle seemed to be the one area Minnesota had to address, and it did that spectacularly.

Overall, this is a difficult grade because the Vikings had so few choices. Considering their limitations, they did well.

Houston Texans: C+ Grade

Goals Entering the 2025 NFL Draft: The Texans lost three offensive linemen this offseason, including Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil. They must bolster C.J. Stroud’s pass protection, and they also need to upgrade the weapons Stroud has with Stefon Diggs gone and Tank Dell injured. Other than that, it wouldn’t hurt if the Texans addressed the middle of their defense.

2025 NFL Draft Accomplishments: The Texans had plans to upgrade their offensive line in the opening round, but with Tyler Booker and Donovan Jackson off the board, they traded out of Thursday night. While this frustrated some fans, it didn’t take very long for the Texans to excite them again. Houston addressed its troubled receiving corps with Jayden Higgins and then found a steal in the middle of the second round in Aireontae Ersery, who could emerge as a starting tackle during his rookie season.

The Texans found another receiver with their next pick, but then got off track after that. Houston began addressing positions that weren’t needs and didn’t even do so with amazing values. The team came away with just one offensive lineman in the entire class, which is a huge blunder.

I thought I was going to grade the Texans highly following their strong start. However, they made far too many irrelevant picks late on Friday and Saturday when upgrades on the offensive line were sorely needed.

Los Angeles Rams: C- Grade

Goals Entering the 2025 NFL Draft: The Rams may have considered blowing everything up and beginning anew when they were rumored to be shopping Matthew Stafford. However, they are all in, so it would make sense to address their very few needs. Cornerback, linebacker, and center are the three areas that must be improved. It wouldn’t hurt to find a receiver either, given that Davante Adams is past 30.

2025 NFL Draft Accomplishments: The Rams had an incredible draft last year, so surely they could follow that up with another strong haul, right? Well, if the needs are considered, that is not the case. Cornerback, linebacker and center, the team’s top three needs, were not addressed at all, save for the 172nd pick on linebacker Chris Paul Jr. The Rams inexplicably passed on all the cornerbacks and centers.

Needs don’t really need to be addressed if a team finds amazing values instead. The Rams, however, did not aside from their fifth-round choice on Ty Hamilton. The second-round selection of Terrance Ferguson was extremely disappointing, as was the fourth-round pick of Jarquez Hunter. The only Rams selection graded favorably outside of Hamilton was the third-round pick, Josaiah Stewart, who could help rattle Jalen Hurts with his tremendous pass-rushing ability.

I like the upgrades the Rams made to their front seven. However, there were far too many whiffs in this class for Los Angeles to be graded favorably.

Baltimore Ravens: A+ Grade

Goals Entering the 2025 NFL Draft: The Ravens couldn’t stop the pass at all last year, so they need to find better players for their pass rush and secondary to make sure that they can deal with aerial attacks in 2025. Baltimore has some other areas of need, including guard and running back depth behind an aging Derrick Henry. They also need to find a kicker with Justin Tucker dealing with Deshaun Watson-type behavior.

2025 NFL Draft Accomplishments: It’s truly remarkable how, year after year, top prospects seem to somehow fall to the Ravens. It happened once again in the 2025 NFL Draft, beginning in the opening round when Malaki Starks inexplicably dropped to No. 27. Starks, who easily could have gone in the teens, will have a huge impact on Baltimore’s secondary. The Ravens had severe problems stopping the pass last year until they moved Kyle Hamilton from linebacker to safety, and then their run defense suffered. Starks will allow Hamilton to remain at linebacker.

Starks wasn’t the only mega value the Ravens obtained. Mike Green, a first-round prospect, was available at No. 59. Green has some off-the-field matters that caused him to drop, but he’s a tremendous edge-rushing talent who will allow Baltimore to put more pressure on Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen. And speaking of pressure, Emery Jones will help keep Lamar Jackson safe. The LSU tackle was seen as a second-round prospect, so he was a steal toward the end of the third frame.

All three of these picks earned A+ grades. In fact, seven of Baltimore’s 11 picks were graded between A+ and A-. This was an outstanding draft for the Ravens, as they found huge steals, all while addressing needs. In my opinion, Baltimore came away with the best haul of any team in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Detroit Lions: D Grade

Goals Entering the 2025 NFL Draft: The Lions were ravaged by injury last year, particularly on defense. They need to make sure that they find depth players so they’re not damaged by constant injuries once again. Positions that were hurt by these injuries are edge rush, defensive tackle, and cornerback. With so few needs otherwise, the Lions can obtain the best player available.

2025 NFL Draft Accomplishments: The Lions have drafted incredibly well under their curent regime, but that doesn’t appear to be the case this year. Their shockingly poor draft began in the opening round when they appeared to be shell shocked that Tyler Booker and Donovan Jackson were off the board. They made a major reach for Tyleik Williams, who was considered a mid-second-round pick.

Detroit used its second-round choice on Tate Ratledge, which was a quality selection, but then the Lions made an inexplicable move to trade up for Isaac TeSlaa. The Arkansas receiver is athletic, but was considered to be a third-day prospect. It made no sense why the Lions believed they needed to surrender substantial draft capital to secure him.

Of the Lions’ seven picks, three were graded “C” or lower, with the TeSlaa pick being marked down as a Millen. Detroit took players at positions of need, but completely sacrificed value in the process.

Washington Redskins: A Grade

Goals Entering the 2025 NFL Draft: The Redskins are having a great offseason, thanks to the trades of Laremy Tunsil and Deebo Samuel. Their odds of winning the Super Bowl have improved, but they still need to bolster some areas. The edge rush is especially weak and must be upgraded. Washington is also looking for an every-down running back. Another receiver makes sense as well.

2025 NFL Draft Accomplishments: Some organizations obtain a franchise quarterback and then go on to neglect his offensive line. The Redskins have avoided that mistake. Despite trading for Laremy Tunsil, Washington used its first-round pick on the athletic Josh Conerly, who can play tackle and guard. This was a terrific decision to help Jayden Daniels have the best chance possible of making a second-year leap.

Including the Conerly pick, the Redskins were able to score a B+ or better with four of their five draft choices. Three of them were graded A+ or “A.” This applies to Washington’s second-round pick, Trey Amos, who easily could have been taken on opening night.

My only criticism of Washington’s draft is that it wasn’t able to obtain an edge rusher. However, with only five picks, the team had its limitations. Thus, I’m still going to give the Redskins a very high score for what it accomplished on draft weekend.

Buffalo Bills: A Grade

Goals Entering the 2025 NFL Draft: The Bills have 10 picks, so they’re in a position to trade up. Cornerback, safety, and wide receiver are areas that must be upgraded. The defensive line needs some help, too, especially given their struggles against the run.

2025 NFL Draft Accomplishments: The Bills need to figure out how to beat the Chiefs in the playoffs. The way they attacked the 2025 NFL Draft made it apparent that they completely understood that.

Buffalo’s first five picks were all used on the defensive line or secondary. Two picks were cornerbacks, including the team’s opening-round choice, Maxwell Hairston. Two pass-rushing defensive linemen were also obtained – T.J. Sanders, Landon Jackson – and then there was Deone Walker, who will help stop the run. The Bills clearly watched the Eagles dismantle the Chiefs in the Super Bowl, which would explain why they made it a priority to draft players like Sanders and Jackson to complement the newly signed Joey Bosa.

The only negative about Buffalo’s draft class was that a receiver wasn’t selected prior to pick No. 240, though Kaden Prather, who was chosen at that selection, provided great value. However, the Bills were able to come away with a great haul. What they accomplished will allow them to have a much better chance of finally vanquishing the Chiefs in January.

Kansas City Chiefs: A- Grade

Goals Entering the 2025 NFL Draft: Though the Chiefs reached the Super Bowl last year, they still had some glaring weaknesses. The offensive line was in shambles, and the situation could be even worse with Joe Thuney gone. The Chiefs also need a nose tackle to help their run defense, as well as a receiver to make the offense more explosive.

2025 NFL Draft Accomplishments: The Chiefs took a big risk with the final pick in the opening round. They drafted Josh Simmons, who is coming off a torn patella tendon. Patella tendon tears have ended many careers, and there’s a chance Simmons will never be able to play well again. However, if Simmons recovers, he could be a franchise left tackle for the team. While this is a big gamble, most draft picks are often risks, so the Chiefs did well to shoot for the upside.

Kansas City used its next two picks on the defensive line, perhaps realizing that generating the best pass rush possible will allow them to rattle other quarterbacks, much like the Eagles did to Patrick Mahomes in the Super Bowl. Omar Norman-Lott provided solid value in the second frame, though Ashton Gillotte wasn’t nearly as much of a bargain.

The Chiefs made two excellent picks on Saturday, with Jalen Royals being their top acquisition. Royals could have easily been taken in Round 3, so perhaps he’ll be able to become a viable threat for Mahomes.

Overall, Kansas City did a very good job in the 2025 NFL Draft. The team addressed needs, and only one of its seven picks was graded worse than a B+.

Philadelphia Eagles: A- Grade

Goals Entering the 2025 NFL Draft: The Eagles have a great roster with no current needs. Thus, they can continue to find help for the future. This would entail finding a new right tackle to eventually replace Lane Johnson once he retires in the near future. They’ll also need to find a new tight end if they end up trading Dallas Goedert.

2025 NFL Draft Accomplishments: Howie Roseman does it once again. Thanks to incompetent teams drafting ahead of them, the Eagles were able to land a steal with their first-round pick. Jihaad Campbell should have gone in the late teens, yet he inexplicably fell all the way to No. 31. The Eagles lost some edge players this offseason, so Campbell should be able to help fill that void, playing the role that Haason Reddick did a couple of years ago.

The Eagles wanted to target a safety in the second round because of Chauncey Gardner-Johnson’s departure. They found one in Andrew Mukuba, though he was a rare reach for the team. Xavier Watts was the better option, whereas Mukuba was considered a mid-round prospect.

Roseman rebounded on Saturday. He made eight picks on Day 3, and yet none of them scored worse than a “B” grade. Three of the selections earned an A- or better.

Philadelphia came away with a strong draft. Aside from the Mukuba reach, the Eagles once again did a great job of adding players through the draft.