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2025 NFL Draft Review - One Year Later

By Tanner Ostrowski

February 18th, 2026

The 2025 NFL season is now over, so it is time to look back at this past year’s NFL Draft. Did the picks pan out or were they not as good as advertised?

1. Tennessee Titans - QB Cam Ward, Miami, 6’2” and 219 pounds:While Ward did show some of his potential, he did not have the best weapons around him that would have helped him develop. He was also difficult to gauge due to his coach getting fired. Next year is expected to be better for him as the team will look for upgrades to surround him with. As of now, this grade will be lower because he was inconsistent.

Grade: B-

2. Jacksonville Jaguars - WR/CB Travis Hunter, Colorado, 6’0” and 188 pounds (received this pick from the Cleveland Browns in exchange for pick 5, pick 36, and pick 126 in 2025, including a 2026 1st Round pick): Hunter had a very limited impact on both offense and defense before he was injured and was declared out for the rest of the season. He did not play both corner and wide receiver as extensively as others had expected before his season ending injury. It also seemed as if they tried to use him as a receiver first, even though cornerback is a more valued position.

Grade: C-

3. New York Giants - EDGE Abdul Carter, Penn State, 6’3” and 250 pounds: Carter did not live up to his capabilities this year. He only had four sacks and was not a very impactful player. Maybe next year he will take a gigantic step due to the hiring of head coach John Harbaugh, but this was an underwhelming year.

Grade: C-

4. New England Patriots - OT Will Campbell, LSU, 6’6” and 319 pounds: Will Campbell was good for a lot of the season. Then, he completely fell apart during the team’s playoff run due to playing through a torn ligament in his knee. Throughout the entire season, he allowed five sacks and had seven penalties per PFF (Pro Football Focus), which is a lot for someone of his draft standing. However, since he was good for the majority of the season, he will be given the benefit of the doubt.

Grade: B

5. Cleveland Browns - DT Mason Graham, Michigan, 6’3½” and 296 pounds (received this pick from the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for pick 2, pick 104 and pick 200 in 2025): Not many people talked about Graham when Cleveland played, due to his teammate Myles Garrett breaking the NFL all-time season sack record. The stats on the surface do not reveal much, but when you look at PFF, he had 36 pressures, which ranked 22nd out of 134 eligible defensive linemen. That is pretty impressive, and makes the Browns’ pick look much better.

Grade: B+

6. Las Vegas Raiders - RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State, 5’8½” and 211 pounds: Jeanty was not impressive in this offense, as was every other player playing for the team. He only averaged 3.7 yards per carry and was not the game-changer that everyone hoped he would be. However, there is a new coaching staff that will hopefully help him out tremendously. He also has the ability to catch passes, as he caught 55 passes. Do not be shocked if the new coaching staff emphasizes that part of his game, but since the 2025 season is the topic of conversation, he will get a much lower grade.

Grade: C

7. New York Jets - OT Armand Membou, Missouri, 6’4” and 332 pounds: Membou was one of the worst offensive linemen in the league, as he had 11 penalties and allowed eight sacks, which ranked 80th and 79th respectively among 89 eligible offensive tackles per PFF. That is not good. But PFF also ranked him as the 31st best offensive tackle. Overall, he passed, but almost flunked.

Grade: D

8. Carolina Panthers - WR Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona, 6’4” and 219 pounds: McMillan definitely lived up to the hype, as he won OROY (Offensive Rookie of the Year). He had 70 receptions, 1,014 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. He was the top target for quarterback Bryce Young and helped his quarterback develop tremendously.

Grade: A+

9. New Orleans Saints - OT Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas, 6’5” and 315 pounds: Banks Jr. had a lot of penalties, as he had 11 penalties throughout the year and allowed five sacks. However, he was in the middle of the pack for pass blocking, and among the top 20 for run blocking per PFF. This makes him look better, and his grade will reflect this.

Grade: Grade: B-

10. Chicago Bears - TE Colston Loveland, Michigan, 6’6” and 248 pounds: Despite the presence of tight end Cole Kmet, Loveland showed his potential towards the end of the year. Loveland has the obvious talent that could make him a top weapon in most NFL offenses. Overall, he had a slow start to the season, but improved as the year went on, thus increasing his grade.

Grade: B

11. San Francisco 49ers - EDGE Mykel Williams, Georgia, 6’5” and 260 pounds: Mykel Williams had a very limited impact for the 49ers defense. He only played nine games before tearing his ACL and suffering a lateral meniscus injury, all in his right knee. Not only that, but he had injury concerns coming out of college, so this does not help his cause.

Grade: D+

12. Dallas Cowboys - OG Tyler Booker, Alabama, 6’5” and 321 pounds: Booker had seven penalties throughout the year, which ranks him 72nd among 81 eligible offensive guards in this category per PFF. He was not the greatest at pass blocking either, but was one of the top offensive guards in terms of run blocking, ranking him 7th overall in this area. Overall, he was the 16th best eligible guard per PFF, which is impressive for a rookie.

Grade: B+

13. Miami Dolphins - DT Kenneth Grant, Michigan, 6’4” and 331 pounds: Grant had 29 pressures, ranking 40th out of 134 eligible defensive linemen. Despite this, PFF still gave him a poor grade overall, but this can be debated, since he received good grades in some of their other statistical categories. PFF is more analytical than anything, but in real life, he proved to be more impactful.

Grade: B

14. Indianapolis Colts - TE Tyler Warren, Penn State, 6’5½” and 256 pounds: Most, if not all rookie tight ends have a learning curve when entering the NFL. This is especially true for a blocking tight end like Warren. This did not matter though, as he still went on to produce in the receiving department. He had 76 receptions, which is a lot, even for the average player. He was impressive and figures to be a bigger part of the offense moving forward.

Grade: A+

15. Atlanta Falcons - EDGE Jalon Walker, Georgia, 6’1” and 243 pounds: Walker was impressive when it came to rushing the quarterback, as he had 5.5 sacks throughout the season. That is great for a rookie, and has a bright future ahead of him. He did better than expected, so his grade will go up.

Grade: B+

16. Arizona Cardinals - DT Walter Nolen, Ole Miss, 6’4” and 296 pounds: Due to injuries, he only played six games this past season, but surprisingly had two sacks throughout the limited action he had. While this does not help his grade this season, it shows what he is capable of doing in the future, if he can stay healthy.

Grade: B-

17. Cincinnati Bengals - EDGE Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M, 6’5” and 267 pounds: Stewart only played in eight games this season and did not produce much when he was on the field. He was advertised as expected, which was that he was a risky pick and a project due to his lackluster college production. The grade will remain the same.

Grade: D

18. Seattle Seahawks - OL Grey Zabel, North Dakota State, 6’6” and 312 pounds: Zabel was an excellent pick, helping the Super Bowl winning Seattle Seahawks on the interior of their offensive line. This gave quarterback Sam Darnold time to throw the ball. He only gave up two sacks, which is impressive considering the transition from the FCS level to the NFL.

Grade: A+

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - WR Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State, 6’1” and 202 pounds: Good thing that the Buccaneers drafted Egbuka because their top two receiving options, wide receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin were out at various points throughout the season. He caught 68 passes for 938 yards and 6 touchdowns as one of their few healthy options. Not only that, but quarterback Baker Mayfield targeted him quite frequently, about 127 times to be exact. Egbuka helped the offense remain stable throughout the year.

Grade: A

20. Denver Broncos - CB Jahdae Barron, Texas, 5’11” and 194 pounds: Barron did not help the team much this year, as he only had one interception throughout 17 games this season. He also had very little production in other categories too. His lack of contribution will lower his grade significantly, as he failed the eye test for this past year.

Grade: F

21. Pittsburgh Steelers - DT Derrick Harmon, Oregon, 6’4½” and 313 pounds: Harmon helped the defense tremendously throughout the 12 games he played. He had three sacks, two run stuffs, a fumble recovery, and even a pass defended. He showed out, and based on the limited time he played, he was excellent.

Grade: A

22. Los Angeles Chargers - RB Omarion Hampton, North Carolina, 6’0” and 221 pounds: With fellow running back Najee Harris only playing in the first three games before suffering a torn achilles, Hampton had to step up. However, Hampton also was injured with ankle issues in 2025. With the limited time that Hampton did play, he showed his potential. He had 4.4 yards per carry and proved that he was capable of catching the ball, as he caught 32 passes out of 35 targets. He will receive a slightly higher grade than initially.

Grade: C

23. Green Bay Packers - WR Matthew Golden, Texas, 5’11” and 191 pounds: There were high expectations that Golden would bring the team’s offense up another level, but he could not get on the field and no one really knows why. This is even with the injuries suffered by wide receivers Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, and tight end Tucker Kraft throughout the season. When he was able to get on the field, he came up clutch, catching contested passes while converting 3rd and 4th downs, albeit in limited action. He has potential, but did not show much production.

Grade: D+

24. Minnesota Vikings - OG Donovan Jackson, Ohio State, 6’4” and 315 pounds: Donovan Jackson was very decent, as he had only four penalties and two sacks allowed per PFF. He would have probably allowed less sacks if his starting quarterback, J.J. McCarthy was not so bad in his first year as a NFL starter. Overall, it was a great pick and he should be a better player coming into his second year.

Grade: A

25. New York Giants - QB Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss, 6’2” and 223 pounds (received this pick from the Houston Texans in exchange for pick 34 and pick 99 in 2025, along with a 2026 3rd Round pick): The Giants drafted Dart and he gave the team confidence that they have a very bright future ahead of them. He has an electric arm and superb athleticism, even though the stats do not necessarily back it up. He was the best rookie quarterback this year. Though, he does need to take caution when running, as he needs to slide instead of taking big hits.

Grade: A+

26. Atlanta Falcons - EDGE James Pearce Jr., Tennessee, 6’5” and 245 pounds (received this pick and pick 101 in 2025 from the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for pick 46 and pick 242 in 2025, in addition to a 2026 1st Round pick): Pearce Jr. performed exceptionally this year, producing 10.5 sacks throughout the entire season. He also forced and recovered a fumble. He had 1.5 run stuffs and defended a pass as an edge rusher, which is rather surprising. Now, he would have great potential, but is now facing criminal charges, five felonies to be exact, which only clouds his future for next year. His entire career could also be on the line. These are extremely serious crimes that he was charged with, so this lowers his grade.

Grade: B

27. Baltimore Ravens - Safety Malaki Starks, Georgia, 6’1” and 197 pounds: The Ravens made a decent pick selecting Starks, but he did not have production that would be with most first rounders. He defended four passes and two interceptions. He had 84 total tackles and surprisingly, he had three run stuffs. He also had four pressures according to PFF. The pick did not meet expectations, but it was still a good pick.

Grade: B

28. Detroit Lions - DT Tyleik Williams, Ohio State, 6’3” and 334 pounds: Tyleik Williams’ year was not up to par. He had 2.5 runs stuffed, which was expected of him. However, he had more passes defended (four) than sacks (one). That is not good since he should have been a major contributor and was not.

Grade: C-

29. Washington Commanders - OT Josh Conerly Jr., Oregon, 6’5 and 311 pounds: This was not a good pick by any means. He committed 13 penalties and allowed eight sacks. Those are horrible numbers and he played the 13th most snaps out of 89 eligible offensive tackles per PFF. To say he failed is easy to say at the very least.

Grade: F

30. Buffalo Bills - CB Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky, 5’11” and 183 pounds: Hairston was an exceptional pick. He only played in 11 games, but produced when he was on the field. He caught two interceptions and defended five passes. Overall, that production from a rookie that played limited snaps is impressive, especially from one of the hardest positions to play in football.

Grade: B+

31. Philadelphia Eagles - Linebacker Jihaad Campbell, Alabama, 6’3” and 235 pounds (received this pick from the Kansas City Chiefs for pick 164):Jihaad Campbell did not produce any sacks, which does not help him in the grading department. But he did have 80 total tackles, one forced fumble and one recovered fumble. He also had two stuffed runs. He also intercepted one pass and defended three passes. Otherwise, he was not that great of a pick.

Grade: C

32. Kansas City Chiefs - OT Josh Simmons, Ohio State, 6’5” and 317 pounds (received this pick from Philadelphia Eagles):Simmons is all over the place statistically. The negative things are that he had eight penalties and a horrible run blocking grade from PFF, ranking 83rd out of 89 eligible offensive tackles. However, his pass blocking is a completely different story, as he ranked 25th out of 89 offensive tackles and only allowed two sacks. Overall, he produced mixed results.

Grade: B-

2025 Green Bay Packers Draft Class - Review

By Tanner Ostrowski

Febraury 16th, 2026

Most of the Packers’ rookies did not meet expectations this year, as they had a difficult time getting on the field. Additionally, when the players were on the field, most of them did not reach their potential. Here are their after season grades.

Round 1(23) - Matthew Golden, WR, Texas, 5’11” and 191 pounds: Many fans of the organization had very high hopes that Golden would elevate the team’s offense to new heights. However, the coaching staff had other plans. He was not on the field very much, and there are a multitude of possibilities about why this happened. It could be that the wide receiver room was already crowded, which limited his time on the field or the coaching staff did not trust him. It was most likely the former, because when Golden was on the field, he made the contested catches that were needed on crucial downs and was clutch for the team. Otherwise, he did not produce enough to get a quality grade.

Grade: D+

Round 2(54) - Anthony Belton, OL, NC State, 6’6” and 335 pounds: Belton was on the field for the latter parts of the season when the offensive line suffered injuries. He played right guard the majority of the time, and it felt like a rollercoaster ride. Sometimes he would be penalized non-stop during a game. At other times, he appeared to show his value and why he was selected. There were a lot of ups and downs for him throughout the season.

Grade: C+

Round 3(87): Savion Williams, WR, TCU, 6’4” and 220 pounds: Williams was not utilized on the field very often due to injuries and the fact that he was a “project” pick. The coaching staff planned this out, as he needed significant development in his game to be a contributing factor for the offense. However, he did play on special teams, returning kickoffs. His abilities were not showcased very often due to the injuries that he played through. His grade will remain the same.

Grade: C-

Round 4(124): Barryn Sorrell, EDGE, Texas, 6’3” and 256 pounds: Sorrell was somewhat impactful, though not as many others had hoped for the edge rusher. At most, he was average against the run and a little better pass rushing the quarterback. He did not come up with many sacks, accumulating only 1.5 sacks. Now, there were players in front of him, like Micah Parsons, Rashan Gary, Kingsley Enagbare and Lukas Van Ness. This could have caused the low sack total, but his talents did not match his production on the field.

Grade: C-

Round 5(159): Collin Oliver, EDGE/Linebacker, Oklahoma State, 6’2” and 240 pounds: Oliver only played one game the entire season because of a torn hamstring suffered at the NFL Combine. Then, he had complications with the injury during training camp. This was a redshirt year for him.

Grade: TBD

Round 6(198): Warren Brinson, DL, Georgia, 6’5” and 315 pounds: He was put in a bigger role than expected after fellow defensive lineman Devonte Wyatt suffered a season ending injury. At college, he was known for being better against the run rather than the pass. However, the opposite was true when he was placed on the field more often. Despite his lack of ability to stop the run, he did a good job considering he was a 6th rounder.

Grade: B

Round 7(237): Micah Robinson, CB, Tulane, 5’11” and 184 pounds: No one will ever know what he could have become as he was snagged off the practice squad in late October by the Tennessee Titans.

Grade: N/A

Round 7(250): John Williams, OL, Cincinnati, 6’4” and 322 pounds: He ended up sitting out the entire season on the PUP (physically unavailable to perform) list due to a back injury. He never played, so next season should provide a better evaluation.

Grade: TBD

Overall Summary and Grade

The previous grade that was given to this draft class was a B-. However, wide receiver Matthew Golden did not meet his lofty expectations and the best player in the draft class was Warren Brinson, considering the value he gave to the team as a late round draft pick. Belton had his highs and lows. Barryn Sorrell’s performance was not up to par. There were three players that were either hurt or on another team. Savion Williams did not contribute much to the offense, but that was the plan for developing him. Williams also had difficulties on special teams because of a foot injury. Due to the aforementioned factors above, the grade significantly decreased to a C-.

Messy Contract Disputes

By Tanner Ostrowski

July 11th, 2025

Contract disputes are running rampant in the NFL when it comes to their top players. Most of these players attended minicamp, such as Cowboys’ linebacker Micah Parsons, Ravens’ quarterback Lamar Jackson, Jets’ cornerback Sauce Gardner and Jets’ wide receiver Garrett Wilson, along with Bills’ running back James Cook.

However, there are a few players that play an important role on their respective teams that have decided to sit out. This includes Washington Commanders’ wide receiver Terry McLaurin, Pittsburgh Steelers’ linebacker T.J. Watt, and finally, Cincinnati Bengals’ defensive end Trey Hendrickson. These three are some of the best players on their individual teams and are trying to gain leverage for an extension by sitting out, which could continue into training camp.

The first situation involves Terry McLaurin, who wants more money than he is currently earning, according to Adam Schefter, who appeared on the Pat McAfee Show. T.J. Watt is sitting out because he wants to be the highest paid non-quarterback in the NFL per Tom Pelissero of NFL Media on the Rich Eisen Show. Meanwhile, Hendrickson is not participating because he wants to have a long-term contract that would provide security, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

Here are where things stand with each player. As of now, McLaurin is quite upset with the Commanders about the entire situation, says Fowler. T.J. Watt and the Steelers will most likely work out a contract that would pay him north of $40 million per year, making him the highest paid non-quarterback in the NFL, per Pelissero on the Rich Eisen Show. Meanwhile, Fowler also reported that the Bengals and Hendrickson have restarted conversations about an extension, but Hendrickson is still refusing to give in to the Bengals and stands firm on what he wants.

Now, here is the interesting part. The aforementioned players are either at or about to be 30 years old. Most people would understand this from the players’ perspectives, but some may acknowledge where the teams are coming from as well, because they may be reluctant to give out these types of contracts to older players. The teams are taking a risk, but the players deserve to obtain what they want because of how much they have done for each of their teams. Presumably, both parties want to get these contract extensions done and out of the way, but that is easier said than done. Hopefully, these situations will get resolved sooner rather than later.

2025 NFL Draft Analysis - Round 1

By Tanner Ostrowski

May 9th, 2025

On April 24th, 2025, the NFL Draft’s 1st Round was not very entertaining in terms of trades because there were only four trades. However, two of those trades were big and two of the teams, in separate trades, may have given up too much compensation in order to get the players they wanted. It should be noted though that one of the trades involved a potential generational talent in the NFL that would be the equivalent to Designated Hitter/Pitcher Shohei Ohtani in the MLB.

This article focuses on the selections made in the 1st Round and the reasons the team took the player they did. It also considers trades as a factor into how good the selection is. Finally, grades will be shown to indicate whether the draft pick was satisfactory for each team’s best interests.

1. Tennessee Titans - QB Cam Ward, Miami, 6’2” and 219 pounds:Ward presents a massive upgrade at QB for the Titans over current starter Will Levis. While there are other pressing needs for the team, this was the right move. As said in the past, Ward has some attributes reminiscent of Kansas City Chiefs’ QB Patrick Mahomes, one of the most talented QBs in the NFL.

Grade: A+

2. Jacksonville Jaguars - WR/CB Travis Hunter, Colorado, 6’0” and 188 pounds (received this pick from the Cleveland Browns in exchange for pick 5, pick 36, and pick 126 in 2025, including a 2026 1st Round pick): The Jaguars pay a steep price and move up to select Hunter, who could possibly play on both offense and defense. This is definitely a “go big or go home” type of move. If this works out, the Jaguars will come out looking like geniuses.

Grade: A

3. New York Giants - EDGE Abdul Carter, Penn State, 6’3” and 250 pounds: Drafting Carter is definitely a smart decision. It beefs up their pass rush, as the Giants also have Weakside Linebacker Brian Burns and Nose Tackle Dexter Lawrence. Opposing QBs will be scared to face this defense when they fight it out.

Grade: A

4. New England Patriots - OT Will Campbell, LSU, 6’6” and 319 pounds: Will Campbell is the top OT on the board, so they jump at the opportunity to draft him. He will be their cornerstone OT to protect franchise QB Drake Maye, who showed lots of potential last year. Thus, Maye will be able to develop at a faster pace because of the Patriots’ improved offensive line.

Grade: A+

5. Cleveland Browns - DT Mason Graham, Michigan, 6’3½” and 296 pounds (received this pick from the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for pick 2, pick 104 and pick 200 in 2025): Graham adds some juice to Cleveland’s pass rushing abilities, who already have one of the best pass rushers in the game with DE Myles Garrett. They needed to improve their defense, considering the division they play in, the AFC North, is all about defense. Because of their draft choice, this will keep the Browns competitive in more games this year.

Grade: A-

6. Las Vegas Raiders - RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State, 5’8½” and 211 pounds: Jeanty is exactly who the Raiders needed. Raiders’ new head coach, Pete Carroll, is all about the run game setting up his QB for success. Jeanty was a beast in college and that is expected to happen in the NFL too. Jeanty is one of the top RBs in recent memory, with his explosion, speed, and tackle-breaking ability. It should be noted that Raiders’ QB, Geno Smith, is used to playing in this system, as Carroll was his coach in Seattle, so this will make the Raiders much better compared to last year.

Grade: A+

7. New York Jets - OT Armand Membou, Missouri, 6’4” and 332 pounds: Another steal in this draft, OT Membou is one of the most athletic offensive linemen. He is also one of the most consistent OTs in the nation. The Jets drafted him with the expectation that he will provide stability and security for the Jets’ new QB, Justin Fields.

Grade: A+

8. Carolina Panthers - WR Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona, 6’4” and 219 pounds: McMillan was selected one spot after in the mock draft, but this is still a decent pick. QB Bryce Young now has a big body to throw the ball to, and will potentially be a dangerous weapon, while being a security blanket at the same time. This will let Young prove himself even more after almost being listed as a huge bust last season before his resurgence.

Grade: A-

9. New Orleans Saints - OT Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas, 6’5” and 315 pounds: Considering the fact that OT Ryan Ramczyk recently retired, this is a sneaky selection. However, it is also a questionable move, as they already have two decent OTs. Banks Jr. might have to sit for a year because of the situation, and one of their more pressing needs is at WR, but some teams do not draft for need.

Grade: Grade: B-

10. Chicago Bears - TE Colston Loveland, Michigan, 6’6” and 248 pounds: his decision is very interesting, considering they have TE Cole Kmet already. They have two good TEs, and their offense will be on fire this year, due to all of the talent they have. They should have gone with RB Omarion Hampton (more on him later) because the Bears’ new head coach, Ben Johnson, drafted Detroit Lions’ RB Jahmyr Gibbs and signed RB David Montgomery all in the same offseason when he was with the team as their offensive coordinator. It is shocking that he did not try to copy something like that in the 1st Round.

Grade: C+

11. San Francisco 49ers - EDGE Mykel Williams, Georgia, 6’5” and 260 pounds: Mykel Williams is one of the top talents in this entire draft. However, he played at 60% with an ankle injury the entirety of last season. While this does show his toughness, it does amplify some injury concerns, whether it warrants it or not. However, if he turns out to be a major contributor to their defense, this pick will go from a reach to a steal.

Grade: B-

12. Dallas Cowboys - OG Tyler Booker, Alabama, 6’5” and 321 pounds: One of the Cowboys’ greatest OGs ever, Zack Martin, retired in the offseason, so they grab his replacement, who is ready to rumble against opposing defensive lines. Booker is a good draft pick in the sense that new head coach, Brian Schottenheimer, emphasizes the run game. However, it is baffling why they made the selection they did, as they could have gone RB. They do not have adequate talent for the position and Hampton was still on the board. Not only that, but their only good WR is CeeDee Lamb, so a WR2 could have helped.

Grade: B

UPDATE: The Dallas Cowboys made a trade for WR George Pickens from the Pittsburgh Steelers. More details included on the NFL Trades page.

13. Miami Dolphins - DT Kenneth Grant, Michigan, 6’4” and 331 pounds: The Dolphins should have picked a CB due to the possibility of trading CB Jalen Ramsey, but looking into the pick, it definitely makes sense now. Grant will be a monster to deal with in the middle, and the opposing offense will also have to deal with Weakside Linebacker Jaelen Phillips and Strongside Linebacker Bradley Chubb. Now, that will give the opposition nightmares.

Grade: B+

14. Indianapolis Colts - TE Tyler Warren, Penn State, 6’5½” and 256 pounds: This is a brilliant move by the Indianapolis Colts, who land the top TE in this draft. There is some luck involved though, as the Bears took Loveland. Overall, he can do everything the Colts ask him to do, such as blocking or breaking tackles with the ball in his hands.

Grade: A+

15. Atlanta Falcons - EDGE Jalon Walker, Georgia, 6’1” and 243 pounds: They draft their EDGE rusher opposite Weakside Linebacker Leonard Floyd for the foreseeable future. This provides pass rushing ability for the Falcons, though Walker should have gone much later in Round 1 compared to where he was drafted. Atlanta should have chosen DT Derrick Harmon (more on him later), but it addressed the need for more pass rushers, whether that would be from the DT or EDGE rusher spots. The question is whether Walker is the right choice. Only time will tell.

Grade: B-

16. Arizona Cardinals - DT Walter Nolen, Ole Miss, 6’4” and 296 pounds: This is a good pick for the Cardinals, because they go defense and get a player to pair up with their excellent, new pass rusher in DE Josh Sweat. Nolen is already good as it is, as he stops the run, but can also learn how to pass rush. He is very young and still has the chance to develop into an even better player. While I did have them selecting an offensive lineman, this is still a proficient draft move.

Grade: A-

17. Cincinnati Bengals - EDGE Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M, 6’5” and 267 pounds: The Bengals make a very risky pick, taking Stewart, who only had 4.5 sacks in his college career (which was three years). While he is a freak athlete, Stewart barely had any production, as previously stated, and there is a possibility that he may be their second best option if DE Trey Hendrickson gets traded. Stewart is not ready for that role and needs plenty of development before that happens.

Grade: D

18. Seattle Seahawks - OL Grey Zabel, North Dakota State, 6’6” and 312 pounds: The Seahawks go the safe route and upgrade their offensive line with Zabel. Even though new QB Sam Darnold did not get a good, young WR, Seattle gets an offensive lineman to protect him. In fact, Zabel was projected to go one pick before this and is a solid pick for Seattle.

Grade: A-

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - WR Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State, 6’1” and 202 pounds: A surprising pick for many people, Egbuka is a pick for the future. It is very confusing because they re-signed WR Chris Godwin and still have WR Mike Evans, who is one of the most consistent WRs in the league. There must be some circumstances involved, whether it is that they are not feeling good about Godwin’s prospects or they are preparing for life without Evans. Either way, a 1st Round pick is projected to be a WR3 if Godwin recovers from his devastating injury.

Grade: D+

20. Denver Broncos - CB Jahdae Barron, Texas, 5’11” and 194 pounds: While the Broncos improve their top-notch secondary, they only have WR Courtland Sutton as their dependable offensive weapon. The RBs need to improve and show they are capable of playing a good amount of snaps, while the WRs behind Sutton are relatively unproven. Another offensive weapon would have been a great pick here.

Grade: C

21. Pittsburgh Steelers - DT Derrick Harmon, Oregon, 6’4½” and 313 pounds: The Steelers did not take the opportunity to draft a QB to develop for the future. However, they do get a good defensive piece in Harmon. He was projected to go earlier in the 1st Round, but Pittsburgh gets a good value out of the pick. And the division they play in, the AFC North, is all about defense, so this helps them keep games closer with his pass rushing ability. The one question mark about this team is whether they go into the season with QB Mason Rudolph as their starter or somebody else, per se, QB Aaron Rodgers. Otherwise, this is a good selection.

Grade: B-

22. Los Angeles Chargers - RB Omarion Hampton, North Carolina, 6’0” and 221 pounds: This is a puzzling pick, as the team just signed RB Najee Harris in the offseason. Not only that, but Hampton and Harris are very similar RBs. They could have used this pick in a much better way, for example, improving their pass rush. It is a baffling decision.

Grade: F

23. Green Bay Packers - WR Matthew Golden, Texas, 5’11” and 191 pounds: The Packers went with the perfect pick in the 1st Round. They need a WR to take the top off of defenses, as WR Christian Watson is recovering from a torn ACL. They did exactly that, as Green Bay selected WR Matthew Golden. He ran a 4.29 40-yard dash, the fastest time for a WR in the NFL Scouting Combine. This is why the Packers take a WR in Round 1 for the first time since 2002.

Grade: A+

24. Minnesota Vikings - OG Donovan Jackson, Ohio State, 6’4” and 315 pounds: Minnesota takes Jackson as their future OG, who could also be an immediate contributor. Booker was projected to go to the Vikings, but he was already taken by the Dallas Cowboys. He is the second-best option for the team, and this is a nice selection by the team, as they needed serious help in this area.

Grade: A

25. New York Giants - QB Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss, 6’2” and 223 pounds (received this pick from the Houston Texans in exchange for pick 34 and pick 99 in 2025, along with a 2026 3rd Round pick): The Giants make the right choice and draft Dart, who has lots of potential. He gets to sit behind two veteran QBs named Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston, who have been in the league for a very long time. This will give Dart multiple resources to go to about how to improve himself as a player. Dart has an unbelievable arm, but needs seasoning as he played in one of the least friendly pro-style offenses. This is one of the best landing spots for him. Just watch out for the media there.

Grade: A

26. Atlanta Falcons - EDGE James Pearce Jr., Tennessee, 6’5” and 245 pounds (received this pick and pick 101 in 2025 from the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for pick 46 and pick 242 in 2025, in addition to a 2026 1st Round pick): The Falcons trade into the 1st Round and take yet another pass rusher. Now, it is never a bad thing to have too many pass rushers, and Pearce Jr. is one of the best in this draft with his incredible speed. However, they give up too much compensation, despite Pearce Jr.’s status. They must have really liked him to give up that much, but is the compensation really worth it? Who knows.

Grade: B-

27. Baltimore Ravens - Safety Malaki Starks, Georgia, 6’1” and 197 pounds: The Ravens choose Starks to be Safety Kyle Hamilton’s running mate. This is a great selection by the team, as they get the second-best option. In the mock draft, they got Safety Xavier Watts from Notre Dame, but Starks was not available at this point. The Rams were projected to take him, but they traded out of Round 1, so the Ravens had some massive luck when it came to selecting Starks.

Grade: A+

28. Detroit Lions - DT Tyleik Williams, Ohio State, 6’3” and 334 pounds: Tyleik Williams presents the future of the DT position for the Lions, adding some energy to the defensive line while learning from veteran DTs Alim McNeill and DJ Reader. This is a great pick for the upcoming years, but the pick may not help them right away. Despite them being in win-now mode, they decide to look out for the future, which is smart.

Grade: B

29. Washington Commanders - OT Josh Conerly Jr., Oregon, 6’5 and 311 pounds: This move committed by the Commanders is a little bit confusing. They just made a trade for OT Laremy Tunsil, one of the top 10 OTs in the NFL. Now, they could replace OT Andrew Wylie, which is the most likely scenario, but Conerly Jr. is still a rookie, so it might take a while for him to get the starting job. This is a move looking towards the future.

Grade: B

30. Buffalo Bills - CB Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky, 5’11” and 183 pounds: The Bills select Hairston, who will be CB Christian Benford’s running mate. Hairston has much more upside though, as he ran a 4.28 in the NFL Scouting Combine, the fastest amongst all prospects in the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine. He also has great instincts and is very fluid. All of the aforementioned attributes will make a potential CB1 for the Bills. In the mock draft, he was taken 19th overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, so the Bills got a massive steal by making this selection.

Grade: A+

31. Philadelphia Eagles - Linebacker Jihaad Campbell, Alabama, 6’3” and 235 pounds (received this pick from the Kansas City Chiefs for pick 164):The Eagles make a huge value pick, picking Jihaad Campbell, who would have gone much higher if not for injury concerns. In the mock draft, he went 7th overall to the New York Jets, and because of this, they won the award for making the steal of the draft. Jihaad Campbell is a versatile player, playing both Linebacker and on the EDGE. And as stated in the mock draft, he scored a RAS of 9.85 out of 10.

Grade: A+

32. Kansas City Chiefs - OT Josh Simmons, Ohio State, 6’5” and 317 pounds (received this pick from Philadelphia Eagles):This an interesting move by Kansas City, as they do not go for a RB to pair with RB Isiah Pacheco. They do not even draft a WR or think about the future of their TE position (though it could be argued that the value was not there at the time of this pick). Instead, they decide to select an OT. Credit to them because Simmons could become an immediate starter on the offensive line. The Chiefs stuck with their guts and decided to protect their future first-ballot Hall of Famer. Admittedly, it is a boring pick, but as said, it is still a good one.

Grade: A-

2025 Green Bay Packers Draft Class - Analysis

By Tanner Ostrowski

May 4th, 2025

This exercise talks about the Green Bay Packers’ draft picks and my analysis about each individual draftee. It includes what I think about the selections, which will be indicated by my grades.

Round 1(23) - Matthew Golden, WR, Texas, 5’11” and 191 pounds:This scenario worked out perfectly for the Packers, as they addressed a position of need at a great value. Golden was the fastest WR in this year’s combine, running a 4.29 40-yard dash. He can take over the Christian Watson role, who is recovering from a torn ACL. He has an excellent change of direction and can run routes well too. He can make the adjustments in order to catch the contested ball. He can also play on the inside. Overall, he can take over Watson’s role, but can do so much more and gives QB Jordan Love a dangerous weapon to use all over the field.

Grade: A+

Round 2(54) - Anthony Belton, OL, NC State, 6’6” and 335 pounds:The pick is somewhat confusing at first, due to the fact that the team has OT Rasheed Walker and OT/OG Jordan Morgan (the latter is their 1st Round pick from last year). However, when I think about it more, it now makes sense. Rasheed Walker is entering the last year of his contract and it sounds like the Packers think Belton can also play OG. Current RG Sean Rhyan is another one in the final year of his contract. Belton is very athletic for his size, scoring a 7.72 RAS out of 10 as an OT and 8.80 as an OG. He is a big man and can maul defensive linemen with ease. He is best suited at OG due to his athleticism, strength and stature. This selection is for the future and the offensive line could look like this after this season - LT Jordan Morgan, LG Aaron Banks, Center Elgton Jenkins, RG Anthony Belton, RT Zach Tom.

Grade: B-

Round 3(87) - Savion Williams, WR, TCU, 6’4” and 220 pounds:He is an athletic freak, running a 4.48 40-yard dash at his size. At college, he was used as a WR, and surprisingly, was also utilized in the backfield, whether that would be at RB or at wildcat QB. He can run through people with his combination of speed, size, and toughness. However, he is more of a gadget player than a pure WR at this point. He can drop the ball easily, despite his build and his large 10 ¼” size hands. Savion Williams needs to get this issue under control to become a more integral part of the offense in the future, otherwise, he will remain a gadget player and that is not what the Packers drafted him for.

Grade: C-

Round 4(124) - Barryn Sorrell, EDGE, Texas, 6’3” and 256 pounds:Sorrell has great athletic abilities that allow him to get into the backfield. He can shed blocks and get to the runner. He also never gives up on a play, always showing 100% effort the entire time he is on the field. He looks the part of a developed player, because of the fact he played in 49 games throughout his four years in college. He accumulated 25 tackles for loss and 15.5 sacks in his last three seasons at Texas according to Sports Reference's website. Overall, this is an excellent value pick considering the type of player Sorrell is.

Grade: A+

Round 5(159) - Collin Oliver, EDGE/Linebacker, Oklahoma State, 6’2” and 240 pounds: Oliver has elite speed for his size. He is at his best when rushing the QB, both at the Linebacker and EDGE rusher positions. However, he is better off on the EDGE due to his lack of instincts at Linebacker. Not only that, but because of his smaller build, he will most likely be used as a situational pass rusher. While his traits are brilliant, his size is what worries me the most.

Grade: B-

Round 6(198) - Warren Brinson, DL, Georgia, 6’5” and 315 pounds:While Brinson’s athleticism pops out on tape, his lack of strength also sticks out. From what I have seen, it looks as if he cannot finish off plays most of the time. That is concerning. Another reason to be alarmed is that he was mostly a part-time player. If he cannot be a full-time starter at Georgia, how will that work out in the NFL? Not very promising.

Grade: C-

Round 7(237) - Micah Robinson, CB, Tulane, 5’11” and 184 pounds:Robinson is a smaller CB who plays primarily on the outside. He is fast, running a 4.42 according to people that were at his pro day. He has good instincts and seems to be a sure tackler. However, he does not have the athleticism that many people would like from a smaller CB, as he has a RAS of 6.41 out of 10. That limits his upside at the pro level.

Grade: C+

Round 7(250) - John Williams, OL, Cincinnati, 6’4” and 322 pounds:John Williams is a brilliant selection at this point in the draft. He was primarily a LT at college, but could transition to Guard due to his size. He has the athleticism to play OT and the strength to play as an OG. He takes on pass rushers with ease. Overall, this is a sneaky upside pick by the Packers. They could develop him into a valuable swing offensive lineman, or maybe even a starter. This is definitely one of my favorite picks considering Green Bay’s track record with turning late round offensive linemen into starters.

Grade: A+

Overall Summary and Grade

Things can (and will) change in the future, but for the sole purpose of this exercise, I will give this draft class a grade of a B-.There are some excellent picks like WR Matthew Golden, EDGE Barryn Sorrell, and OL John Williams. However, there are selections that are mind-boggling, such as the decision to draft WR Savion Williams in the 3rd Round, along with drafting DL Warren Brinson and CB Micah Robinson. If it were not for the three previously mentioned picks, the class would have received a B+ to A-.