NFC Draft Grades

NFC East

• Dallas Cowboys

Draft picks: DT Mazi Smith, TE Luke Schoonmaker, LB DeMarvion Overshown, EDGE Viliami Fehoko Jr., G/OT Asim Richards, CB Eric Scott Jr., RB Deuce Vaughn, WR Jalen Brooks

Grade: B

Although there was some reaching done by the Cowboys, they hit every major need of theirs. Smith and Shoonmaker fill big holes and likely are day 1 starters.

• New York Giants

Draft picks: CB Deonte Banks, C John Michael Schmitz, WR Jalin Hyatt, RB Eric Gray, S Tre Hawkins III, DT Jordon Riley, S Gervarrius Owens

Grade: A-

Banks is a quality day once choice giving the Giants much needed help at corner. He is physical and long giving them potential to have a lockdown corner. Hyatt in round 3 is a MASSIVE steal. They did a fine job getting more weapons for Daniel Jones.

• Philadelphia Eagles

Draft picks: DT Jalen Carter, EDGE Nolan Smith, OT Tyler Steen, S Sydney Brown. CB Kelee Ringo, QB Tanner McKee, DT Moro Ojomo

Grade: Broke the Scale

Obviously the running joke is the Georgia Bulldog selections. But, Carter and Smith are immediate impact guys day 1. They get another solid corner with Ringo. Then they got a playmaking RB via trade landing D’Andre Swift. Have a day Birds.

• Washington Commanders

Draft picks: CB Emmanuel Forbes, S Jartavius Martin, G Ricky Stromberg, OT Braeden Daniels, EDGE K.J. Henry, RB Chris Rodriguez Jr., EDGE Andre Jones

Grade: F

Life after Snyder doesn’t look much better. Reaching on your first and second round picks is never a good look. On top of that, they still need major TE help and a QB to develop.

NFC North

• Chicago Bears

Draft picks: OT Darnell Wright, DT Gervon Dexter Sr., CB Tyrique Stevenson, DT Zacch Pickens, RB Roschon Johnson, WR Tyler Scott, LB Noah Sewell, CB Terell Smith, DT Travis Bell. WR Kendall Williamson

Grade: A

They turned their number one pick into a number 1 receiver in DJ Moore, Pass Protection in Darnell Wright and some secondary help in Tyrique Stevenson. Not a bad haul. They also grabbed plenty of front 7 help on the defense. I really like where Chi-town is headed.

• Detroit Lions

Draft picks: RB Jahmyr Gibbs, LB Jack Campbell, TE Sam LaPorta, S Brian Branch, QB Hendon Hooker, DT Brodric Martin, OT Colby Sorsdal, WR Antoine Green

Grade: B+

Gibbs was a bit surprising. Given Swift being moved, they grabbed their guy so good for them. I love where they snagged Branch and Hooker as well.

• Green Bay Packers

Draft picks: EDGE Lukas Van Ness, TE Luke Musgrave, WR Jayden Reed, TE Tucker Kraft, DT Colby Wooden, QB Sean Clifford, WR Dontayvion Wicks, DT Karl Brooks, K Anders Carlson, CB Carrington Valentine, RB Lew Nichols III, S Anthony Johnson Jr., WR Grant DuBose

Grade: D

Great job loading up on receivers for a young QB who won won’t be protected much.

• Minnesota Vikings

Draft picks: WR Jordan Addison, CB Mekhi Blackmon, CB Jay Ward, DT Jaquelin Roy, QB Jaren Hall, RB DeWayne McBride

Grade: C+

Addison will be a nice pairing with Jefferson. Aside from that, this looks like a weak class for the Viks.

NFC South

• Atlanta Falcons

Draft picks: RB Bijan Robinson, OT Matthew Bergeron, EDGE Zach Harrison, CB Clark Phillips III, S DeMarco Hellams, G Jovaughn Gwyn

Grade: B

Even though I am listening to Atlanta fans crap all over this for not addressing defense, grabbing the best offensive player in the draft is a win in my book. I don’t know if Desmond Ridder is the answer, but giving him a bell cow and more offensive line can’t hurt. They sneakily made some quality short term signings this off-season to their defense. So I don’t hate it.

• Carolina Panthers

Draft picks: QB Bryce Young, WR Jonathan Mingo, EDGE D.J. Johnson, G Chandler Zavala, S Jammie Robinson

Grade: B–

They gave up a ton for Bryce Young and I am not sold. Maybe I will be wrong. Won’t be the first nor last time.

• New Orleans Saints

Draft picks: DT Bryan Bresee, EDGE Isaiah Foskey, RB Kendre Miller, G Nick Saldiveri, QB Jake Haener, S Jordan Howden, WR A.T. Perry

Grade: B+

The Saints were smart and patient with their picks, namely the first 2 selections. Lots of pieces on the defense were gutted. I liked seeing them go back to back to the defensive line.

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Draft picks: DT Calijah Kancey, OT Cody Mauch, EDGE YaYa Diaby, LB SirVocea Dennis, TE Payne Durham, CB Josh Hayes, WR Trey Palmer, EDGE Jose Ramirez

Grade: B-

I don’t know that you can give a team that needs serious help nearly everywhere worse than what I did. Kancey is a great pick. Cody Mauch’s teeth are worth a full letter grade if we are being real.

NFC West

• Arizona Cardinals

Draft picks: OT Paris Johnson Jr., EDGE B.J. Ojulari, CB Garrett Williams, WR Michael Wilson, G Jon Gaines II, QB Clayton Tune, LB Owen Pappoe, CB Kei’Trei Clark, DT Dante Stills

Grade: B-

The Cards stockpiled picks so that’s never a bad idea. They used some of them to grab Johnson at 6. The draft falls off a bit after Ojulari.

• Los Angeles Rams

Draft picks: C/G Steva Avila, EDGE Byron Young, QB Stetson Bennett, EDGE Nick Hampton, OT/G Warren McLendon, TE Davis Allen, WR Puka Nacua, CB Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, EDGE Ochaun Mathis, RB Zach Evans, P Ethan Evans, S Jason Taylor II, DT Desjuan Johnson

Grade: C+

With no early picks, I think they did fair considering it was day 2 and 3 picks. I really love Avila and Hodges-Tomlinson where they snagged them.

• San Francisco 49ers

Draft picks: S Ji’Ayir Brown, K Jake Moody, TE Cameron Latu, CB Darrell Luter Jr., EDGE Robert Beal Jr., LB Dee Winters, TE/FB Brayden Willis, WR Ronnie Bell, LB Jalen Graham

Grade: C+

Same as Rams, no early picks hurt. BUT, the 49ers aren’t in deep shit as they have a loaded roster and the best in the NFC behind the Eagles.

• Seattle Seahawks

Draft picks: CB Devon Witherspoon, WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, EDGE Derick Hall, RB Zach Charbonnet, G Anthony Bradford, DT Cameron Young, EDGE/DT Mike Morris, C Olusegun Oluwatimi, S Jerrick Reed II, RB Kenny McIntosh

Grade: A+

It feels like the Seahawks have needed a pass rush since nam. Despite that, Witherspoon on the other side of a Woolen is fantastic. Smith-Njigba at 20 is a huge win. I love the three headed monster with Metcalf, Lockett and the former. From that point, it was almost all beefing up the trenches.