Grade Handouts
By Peyton Schultze 
The Ravens’ impressive draft has to solidify the notion that Lamar Jackson and Baltimore could get to the Super Bowl in 2020 (via The Undefeated).
With the 2020 NFL Draft all wrapped up now, it will be a long time until we once again see professional football in action again. However, with some interesting, confusing, or bold moves from all 32 teams over the past weekend, the 2020 Draft concluded with a record number of viewers tuned in, and was truly one for the books in its unique virtual format. With that being said, from the most surprising picks to the most puzzling selections, here are our draft grades through the first four rounds for each of the 32 teams in the league.
Team Grades
The Panthers focused on rebuilding their defense in this draft, especially considering Christian McCaffrey’s insane production on the other side of the ball (via Yahoo! Sports).
Arizona Cardinals
Arizona may have swooped up the steal of the draft by taking linebacker Isaiah Simmons at the eighth overall pick, opting to take the best available player instead of the assumed need at offensive tackle. Also bolstering their lines on both sides of the ball later in the draft with the selections of potential blocks such as Josh Jones, the Cardinals did a nice job of addressing some needs in this year’s draft. Kliff Kingsbury and company took a leap forward this week, and teams around the league need to watch out for Arizona next season. Grade: A-
Atlanta Falcons
What exactly is the Falcons’s plan right now? Atlanta chose some curious players over the course of the weekend, but none was more surprising than their selection of AJ Terrell with the sixteenth pick, especially after he struggled in big moments last year at Clemson. With a true lack of immediate impact players that figure to help Matt Ryan make a run back to the playoffs, Atlanta took a step back and now appears to be the worst team among the uber competitive NFC South. Grade: D+
Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens may not have found themselves an elite wide receiver prospect such as CeeDee Lamb or Henry Ruggs III in this draft, but there is no doubt that they added some great depth to this team in this year’s draft. Linebacker Patrick Queen will be a welcome addition to the league’s best defense, and offensive talents such as J.K. Dobbins and Devin Duvernay only add more talent to surround Lamar Jackson. Baltimore looks like they may have hit big again, validating their status as one of the league’s best front offices. Grade: A
Buffalo Bills
It was a pretty quiet period for the Bills in the 2020 NFL Draft, but they made some decent moves that should make them the AFC East favorite heading into 2020. The selection of AJ Epenesa was a nice addition to their elite defense, and the late selection of quarterback Jake Fromm could add some nice insurance in the event that Josh Allen goes down at any point this season. It wasn’t anything special, but the Bills did a fairly decent job of adding talent after the offseason trade for Stefon Diggs. Grade: B-
Carolina Panthers
Perhaps the most underrated draft haul in this year’s class, Carolina opted to select a defensive player with each of their seven picks, starting with elite defensive tackle prospect Derrick Brown at the seventh overall slot. By also adding potential top tier talent in the second round in Yetur Gross-Matos and Jeremy Chinn, the Panthers took some significant steps forward with this recent boost of defensive talent after struggling on that side of the ball in 2019. After their successful draft and a solid free agency period with the addition of offensive building blocks to help out Christian McCaffrey, Carolina may be sitting as the NFC’s dark horse squad. Grade: A-
Denver’s Drew Lock may be the happiest man in the NFL following the Broncos’ impressive draft haul (via KDVR.com).
Chicago Bears
Like it has been for the past 30 years, the Bears continue to surprise everyone with how strange some of their draft decisions have been. By passing over some key talent after not having a first round pick, the Bears made a questionable choice by selecting Cole Kmet, the Notre Dame tight end, to add to a roster with ten players at the position. They did add some depth to the secondary later in the draft which should help a ton in 2020, but the Bears remain a confusing puzzle with their apparent lack of urgency to compete with Green Bay and Minnesota at the top of the division. Grade: C-
Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals got their man under center with the number one overall pick, so it is hard to throw any kind of criticism in their direction for making the right move. Cincinnati also made a bold move by adding some targets for Joe Burrow on the outside instead of drafting defensive players early, but it should really help the quarterback feel more comfortable in his rookie season. It is still going to be tough for the Bengals to make some noise in 2020, but they did a nice job in the draft. Grade: A-
Cleveland Browns
The Browns hit it big in the draft? Yes they did, and Baker Mayfield should really benefit from added protection of the offensive line with so many elite targets already on the outside for him. In addition to offensive tackle Jedrick Wills in the first, they also took safety Grant Delpit and defensive lineman Jordan Elliott early on, therefore adding more impact players to a roster that remains one of the most talented in the league. Cleveland remains a mystery each year, but there’s no denying that they made some smart moves in this year’s draft. Grade: A
Dallas Cowboys
Dallas does not always deserve a lot of the credit that they receive, but they hit a home run over this past weekend. By selecting wide reciever CeeDee Lamb and adding cornerback Trevon Diggs to a limited secondary, Dallas made some very key improvements that figure to help them out a ton on both sides of the ball in 2020. After a splashy draft for Jerry Jones and the ‘Boys, Dallas looks like a team that should surely return to playoff action next season with one of the best offenses in the league. In addition, a quick mention should be laid out to Dak Prescott, who lost his brother over the weekend. Everyone is praying for you and your family. Grade: A+
Denver Broncos
It’s rare to hand out back-to-back perfect scores, but Denver went off in this year’s draft. If there were any lingering doubts in Denver regarding the status of quarterback Drew Lock next season, John Elway backed up his new lead signal caller with a surplus of offensive talent such as speedster KJ Hamler, center Lloyd Cushenberry, and arguably the best wide reciever in this year’s class in Jerry Juedy with the fifteenth overall selection. The Broncos nailed the 2020 draft, and they have a great chance of finding themselves back in the AFC playoff picture next season. Grade: A+
Aaron Rodgers’ time in Green Bay appears to be on the clock after their shocking selection of Jordan Love (via Fox News).
Detroit Lions
Many thought that Detroit would attempt to move out of the third overall slot, but they held tight and made the right move by selecting corner Jeff Okudah. But what Detroit did after that was somewhat puzzling, especially considering the lack of defensive emphasis and the odd scheme fit with second round running back D’Andre Swift. Okudah was a great pickup, but the Lions figure to still sit at the bottom of the NFC North after an uneventful draft. Grade: B-
Green Bay Packers
There was not a single selection as puzzling as Green Bay’s first round pick, when they took Utah State quarterback Jordan Love to potentially succeed Aaron Rodgers at some point. And not only that, Green Bay backed up their peculiar offensive decision by taking running back A.J. Dillon in the second round, just months after Aaron Jones led the league in rushing touchdowns. However, their picks required some re-evaluation and their plan at least became more clear with some reflection. By selecting a mobile quarterback, a running back, and some interior line help later on, Green Bay made their future plans clear by saying they are going to be physical up front and counter some of the high flying offenses in the league. It may not justify the Packers’ choices for the present-day, but at least Matt LaFleur has a plan in place to beat teams such as San Francisco or Seattle in the future of the NFC. Grade: C-
Houston Texans
If you’re a Texans fan, you have to be extremely disappointed in how boring the draft was for the team this year. Houston did opt to bolster their defensive line with the selections of Ross Blacklock and Jonathan Greenard, but they did very little to help out one of the league’s worst offensive lines in order to further protect Deshaun Watson. The times have been tough for Houston in 2020 so far, and they look like a team that could fall of the map in the AFC in 2020. Grade: D+
Indianapolis Colts
Looking to build an entire offense for the future of a franchise without having a first-round pick? Look no further than what Indianapolis did in this year’s draft, when they found several future building blocks such as Michael Pittman Jr. , Jonathan Taylor, and Jacob Eason. After this draft, it is clear that the Colts have constructed their roster to win right now and for years to come, and they deserve the highest of praise for doing a ton without much available. Grade: A+
Jacksonville Jaguars
Many people probably thought that the Jaguars would do something a little more flashy in several spots in the draft, but it is not to say they necessarily had a bad draft. Cornerback C.J. Henderson, edge rusher K'Lavon Chaisson, and wide reciever Laviska Shenault were all nice picks, but there’s no doubt there is plenty of pressure on quarterback Gardner Minshew to step up and perform. This could easily be the worst team in the league next year, but they at least had a decent draft in 2020. Grade: B
Jon Gruden and the Raiders’ front office made some questionable draft moves in their first year in Las Vegas (via NBC Sports).
Kansas City Chiefs
There probably isn’t a single team in the league that needed to worry less about this year’s draft, but the Chiefs still did a pretty nice job of adding some talent despite their loaded roster. With so many elite players already in Kansas City, Andy Reid and the front office were able to take some risks on some booming talents in the form of running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire and linebacker Willie Gay. The Chiefs put together a nice draft with what they had, and could really benefit from some of their bold choices if their new draftees burst on the scene soon enough. Grade: A-
Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders had a very successful draft one year ago, but it looks like they may struggle to replicate that same success after this year’s haul. Henry Ruggs III is a true speedster, but you have to wonder what the Raiders were doing by passing over elite prospects in Jerry Juedy and CeeDee Lamb while still on the board. In addition, cornerback Damon Arnette seemed like a huge stretch in the first round despite his solid play at Ohio State. Las Vegas is still solid, but you have to wonder if they’ll be at the bottom of the AFC West once again next season. Grade: C-
Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers have had a pretty great offseason all around, whether it was their splashy free agency period or the release of their next uniforms. The 2020 NFL Draft wasn’t any different either, as the Chargers found their quarterback of the future in Justin Herbert and added linebacker Kenneth Murray, who should be able to contribute right away. Los Angeles could have done things a little differently in order to have drafted another elite player like Isaiah Simmons while still selecting Herbert, but they still had a nice draft period that should get them back on track in 2020. Grade: A-
Los Angeles Rams
The Rams draft was…. meh. Without any spectacular moves and some surprise selections (Cam Akers over J.K. Dobbins; reciever Van Jefferson in the second round), the Rams made some uninspiring moves that have followed their offseason trend of mediocrity. 2020 looks like a true uphill climb to the playoffs for the Rams, and the draft once again reminded everyone just how many great teams there are in front of the Rams in the NFC. Grade: D
Miami Dolphins
Miami came into the draft with high expectations, and they left it feeling on top of the league. With a spectacular collection of impact draft picks, from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to tackle Austin Jackson to defensive lineman Raekwon Davis, the Dolphins put themselves in a position to rise in the standings in the AFC East for years to come with Tom Brady now over in the NFC South. The ultimate future doesn’t appear to be here quite yet in Miami, but they are in a great position to win with this new wave of talent flowing into South Beach. Grade: A
Quarterback Sam Darnold has to be thrilled with the Jets’ offensive push in this year’s draft (via NJ.com).
Minnesota Vikings
With the Packers struggling to put together a huge draft class, Minnesota had to step up in order to regain their footing in the NFC North. And did they ever. By adding wide reciever Justin Jefferson and cornerback Jeff Gladney in the first, while also selecting tackle Ezra Cleveland in the second round, Minnesota addressed all of their major weaknesses in this draft after a questionable offseason. Mike Zimmer and company should be proud, as the Vikings still look like a borderline contender once again in the NFC. Grade: A-
New England Patriots
It is fair to wonder what exactly Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft have up their sleeve for the 2020 season, because the draft was a pretty unexciting time for Patriot fans. In typical New England fashion, the Patriots selected little-known safety Kyle Dugger with their first pick of the post-Brady era, while also adding edge rusher Josh Uche and plenty of other depth on the offensive line and at tight end later in the draft. It is hard to doubt the Patriots based off their history of evaluating players in the past, but this looked like a rather unexciting weekend for New England. Grade: D
New Orleans Saints
New Orleans may already have the most talented roster on paper in the league, so it was not a shock to see them inactive for most of the weekend. However, adding guard Cesar Ruiz to further protect Drew Brees was a smart move in the first, as was selecting linebacker Zack Baun in the third round. The Saints didn’t make any huge moves with seismic proportions in the 2020 NFL Draft, but they still look like one of the premier Super Bowl contenders in the sport. Grade: B
New York Giants
The Giants made one of the surprise moves of the first round by selecting tackle Andrew Thomas with the fourth overall pick, but they filled a major hole up front in order to protect quarterback Daniel Jones. In addition, adding a first-round talent with Xavier McKinney in the second round was a steal for the Giants, and could greatly help a secondary that struggled mightily in 2019. The Giants could have taken the best available player on the board in the first instead of Thomas, but there’s no denying Dave Gettleman had one of his better drafts with the G-Men. Grade: B+
New York Jets
It is rare to see the Jets having the upper hand in terms of the New York football teams, but they made some very nice picks in this year’s draft. By selecting athletic offensive tackle Mekhi Becton and selecting talented wide receiver Denzel Mims late in the second round, the Jets were able to provide some necessary pieces to help quarterback Sam Darnold put together a better year in 2020. The Jets could have opted to select a better tackle with less bust-risk, but they still did just what they needed to take a step forward in the AFC East. Grade: A-
The Bucs’ insane offseason has many people wondering just how far this team can go with offensive superstars such as Mike Evans and Tom Brady (via Buccaneers.com).
Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles’ front office has taken plenty of heat in the Howie Roseman-era, including over the past offseason. But even though Philadelphia may not have taken the exact reciever they wanted in the first, the Eagles responded with a decent draft with a variety of new players now on their roster. With the addition of players such as quarterback Jalen Hurts (who will give insurance to the oft-injured Carson Wentz), linebacker Javion Taylor, and safety K’Von Wallace, the Eagles addressed some areas of needs among this year’s crop of players. They’ll certainly face competition with Dallas at the top of the division this year, but the Eagles still look like a threat in the NFC. Grade: B
Pittsburgh Steelers
It’s hard to describe the Steelers’ draft in any way other than with one word: quiet. The Steelers will enter 2020 as a potential favorite in the AFC due to their elite defense, but their draft picks this weekend at least showed some emphasis on offense to help out Ben Roethlisberger. With some low-key selections of players such as receiver Chase Claypool and running back Anthony McFarland Jr., Pittsburgh showed they’re willing to be patient with their current roster for the stretch run next season. Grade: B-
San Francisco 49ers
Just months after appearing in the Super Bowl as the NFC representative, it was shocking to see how much the 49ers were moving around in this year’s draft. Yet their movement paid off big time, as San Francisco was able to select players such as reciever Brandon Aiyuk to help their vertical passing game and interior defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw to add to their already-loaded defensive line. For anyone that thought the Niners could take a major step back next season, look at what general manager John Lynch was just able to do inside the league’s best current front office. Grade: A+
Seattle Seahawks
Seattle had a nice offseason period in free agency, but their draft was somewhat questionable with some distant reaches. The Seahawks have typically been one of the most patient teams in the league during the draft, but they made some questionable picks early on in the form of linebacker Jordyn Brooks and edge rusher Darrell Taylor. Like New England, they’ll get somewhat of a benefit of the doubt for their past historical success, but it still doesn’t look like a great draft for fans in the Pacific Northwest. Grade: C-
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
With the free agency addition of Tom Brady and the recent trade for Rob Gronkowski, it is clear that the Buccaneers are the true winners of the offseason. But instead of sitting on their offseason success, Tampa Bay went out and put together a solid draft to help out Brady and company. With the selection of tackle Tristan Wirfs to protect Brady in the pocket, while also adding impact players on defense such as Antoine Winfield Jr. and Khalil Davis, the Bucs knocked it out of the park once again in the draft with a solid group of players. It’s not perfect with some clear holes still on defense, but it' appears to be a great time to be a Bucs’ fan. Grade: A-
Tennessee Titans
The Titans did not look like a team that was in position to walk away with a few steals in the draft, but they did a pretty solid job over the weekend in covering up some holes on the roster. With the selections of tackle Isaiah Wilson and cornerback Christian Fulton late in the second round, the Titans added depth to two serious areas of weakness on their roster. Like many of the other contenders drafting late in the rounds, the Titans did a nice job with their available resources in taking further steps toward a potential Super Bowl berth in 2020. Grade: B+
Washington Redskins
Call it luck that they didn’t have a major need at quarterback, because Washington easily could have selected the best player in the draft with pass rusher Chase Young. However, Washington did make some somewhat strange moves later in the draft by adding running back Antonio Gibson in the third and tackle Saahdiq Charles in the fourth. Washington certainly gets credit for making the right move with Young, but their other additions in the draft remain a mystery for the first year of the Ron Rivera-era. Grade: B-