Matty D’s 1st Round Draft Analysis

Arizona Cardinals select Kyler Murray. As expected Kingsbury and Co take the guy he’s coveted for 7+ years. Does it make sense with Josh Rosen on the roster? I’m not sold on the Heisman winner but if he’s their guy then you have to go with it. He’s explosive, accurate, can make all the throws, and most importantly has that moxie. Kyler and Kliff are tied together for their Cardinals career. Grade: C+
San Francisco 49ers select Nick Bosa. The consensus best overall player, Bosa is a plug-and-play defensive end who will bring his deep family ties and elite talent to a rising 49ers squad. The only concern is the injury bug and because of that I can’t give the highest grade. This is chalk so far and the 49ers make the right decision and didn’t overthink it. Grade: A
New York Jets select Quinnen Williams. “A 300-pound bar of soup” is a great term for Williams. He is perfect for the Jets to place next to Leonard Williams and his versatility will show immediately as he can both rush the passer and stop the run. He’s also a high-quality guy from a blue blood program. It’s a win but the Jets don’ help Darnold with a skill position weapon. That need has to be addressed later in this draft. Grade: A-
Oakland Raiders select Clelin Ferrell. The first shocking pick of this draft the Raiders select a talented Clemson pass rusher to replace Khalil Mack. It is a reach in terms of talent on the board as Ferrell was expected to be a mid to late first. Ed Oliver, Josh Allen, Rashan Gary, and others appeared more talented. It’s a reach through and through. Grade: D+
Tampa Bay Buccaneers select Devin White. The LSU inside linebacker is my #1 prospect on the board. A new age linebacker with 4.5 speed and incredible intelligence, White is the immediate leader of this defense replacing Kwon Alexander. This is a huge step forward and a win for a Bucs team that needs some talent on defense. Grade: A+
New York Giants select Daniel Jones. A zero star recruit out of high school, Jones impressed with advanced statistics and the “look” of a franchise quarterback. Friend of the Manning family, Jones still shocks going this early. It’s a bit of a reach but if it’s the Giant’s guy then you can never pick a franchise QB too early. Grade: C
Jacksonville Jaguars select Josh Allen. I think Jacksonville was surprised Allen was even available here. A super athlete who produced in the SEC at Kentucky of all places, Allen needs some polishing but he is an elite pass rushing prospect. The issue with this pick is defense isn’t their main issue. How are they going to protect Nick Foles and who is he going to throw to? Grade: B-
Detroit Lions select TJ Hockenson. Don’t be the next Eric Ebron! A fast riser out of Iowa, TJ is a throwback who can do it all. I like the pick but the Lions needed defense and defenders were out there. Shame there wasn’t a top defensive back in this draft. Still though, great value and great target for Stafford. Grade: B
Buffalo Bills select Ed Oliver. Incredible value pick for the Bills as Oliver was considered by many as the #1 overall prospect last summer. Ed didn’t struggle this season but others excelled and he’s somewhat of a tweener at 275 pounds. This is an excellent pick in terms of value but Josh Allen needed more help and didn’t get it. Grade: B
Pittsburgh Steelers select Devin Bush. The Steelers make a massive jump up by trading for the 10^th overall pick. They select the other 1^st round inside linebacker in Devin Bush. The Michigan product is just a hair behind Devin White. He will immediately assist the Steelers in stopping tight ends and running backs in the passing game and he has excellent instincts and pursuit to shut down fast NFL offenses. Helps to replace Ryan Shazier and bring back the vaunted Steel Curtain. Gave up a lot which hurts the grade but got an absolute stud. Grade: B+
Cincinnati Bengals select Jonah Williams. Needed is the best word here. Jonah Williams can quickly assist a porous offensive line at either tackle position. He comes from Alabama so he’s faced and clean up the best. Smart pick that fits a need and first offensive lineman off the board. Strong grade for the new regime in Cincy although Andy Dalton’s successor was an option. Grade: A-
Green Bay Packers select Rashan Gary. Absolute combine freak not traveling far from Michigan to Wisconsin. He does need to translate this athletic ability into better statistics. If coached properly he’s a Pro Bowler but if not he’s a bust. Honestly there are offensive playmakers out there plus a few offensive lineman that would have made more sense. Still the talent value at 12 is sky high. Grade: C+
Miami Dolphins select Christian Wilkins. Shockingly the second defensive lineman drafted this year out of Clemson. Wilkins is excellent, productive winner and a senior that brings a lot to the table and helps shift the culture in Miami. He can play in multiple schemes and brings a good mix of talent and production. High floor but lower ceiling then some guys drafted above, it’s a safe and smart pick even though the Dolphins still need a QB. Grade: B
Atlanta Falcons select Chris Lindstrom. Smart teams make smart selections and this is that. Not sexy drafting an offensive lineman but lines win. Lindstrom is a guard but will fit right in to a Falcons offense thinking they can bounce back in a big way. He’s a bruiser who will open lanes for Devonta Freeman and should be a starter for a decade in Atlanta. It works to protect Matty Ice. Grade: B+
Washington Redskins select Dwayne Haskins. The Alex Smith area is over in DC. Haskins returns home to take over the reins for a perennially mediocre Redskins franchise. The top ranked passer on many teams’ boards, Haskins appears to have it all after only one season with the Buckeyes. Do they have the weapons around Haskins and does the quarterback room survive with Smith and Case Keenum there? Ownership appears to have stepped in to make this choice which is never a great idea. Grade: C-
Carolina Panthers select Brian Burns. Upside pick all the way. Burns gained 20 pounds of muscle this offseason to jump up draft boards this offseason. Needs to show he can hold up at the next level and be more than a situational pass rusher but he fills a major need for the Panthers in division with Matt Ryan and Drew Brees. Who is catching passes though? Grade: B
New York Giants select Dexter Lawrence. The third(!) Clemson defensive lineman to be drafted in the first round, Lawrence is 342 pounds of ballerina. Not an elite pass rusher but a run stuffer who sheds blockers with power and grace, Dexter needs to stay healthy but can produce quick. Think a better pass rusher and speed was the better choice but Lawrence is still solid. Grade: B
Minnesota Vikings select Garrett Bradbury. Taking a center early is okay when you definitely need one. The Vikings were hurt by their lack of anything resembling blockers last year. High character and very skilled, he steps in quick. Needs to bulk up against NFL defenses but gets on defenders quick with great technique. For a team with limited needs, this is a great pick. Grade: A-
Tennessee Titans select Jeffery Simmons. An elite pass rusher from Mississippi St, Simmons is a Top-10 talent but a domestic assault back in high school affected his stock. It appears he has been honest and regretful which kept him on some team’s boards. He is also coming off a torn ACL. Tennessee is a strong organization that should be able to assist Simmons and in football terms it’s a great pick in a division full of passers. Grade: B+
Denver Broncos select Noah Fant. Two Iowa tight ends taken in the first round! First time ever two tight ends from the same school taken in the first. Fant was the better prospect coming into this season before his teammate overtook him. He is a new age move tight end with great speed and receiving ability and fills a clear need in Denver, who avoid a quarterback in Round 1. He’s a great fit with Joe Flacco but must be a better blocker at the next level. Grade: B+
Green Bay Packers select Darnell Savage. A fast riser out of Maryland, Savage is the first defensive back taken this year. He is lightning fast but not a supreme tackler. It is a head scratcher with other needs out there. Moving up for a guy that could have fallen into the late 2^nd round hurts this grade though for a team that already has a number of young defensive backs. Grade: D
Philadelphia Eagles select Andre Dillard. The Eagles trade up 3 spots to protect Carson Wentz. Dillard can come in and play tackle if needed but may start at guard early with Jason Peters still ticking. Dillard was a little polarizing but is a great pass protector. Needs coaching and reps to reach his upside. Solid pick from a smart franchise. Grade: B
Houston Texans select Tytus Howard. Um who? The Texans may have gotten jumped by the Eagles when it came drafting tackles. Similar to Dillard, he needs coaching but he’s an athlete who came into college as a TE. Clearly is a reach here though with Jawaan Taylor and Cody Ford still on the board but a need is potentially met. Grade: F
Oakland Raiders select Josh Jacobs. Gruden stamps this pick all the way. A do-it-all back, Jacobs is underrated splitting time with at least two backs at Alabama. He’s 220lbs so he can hold up well. Not elite break-away speed but a north-south runner with great lateral movement and flashed pass catching ability with the Crimson Tide. He replaces Beast Mode and completes a Raiders offense. But the Thunderblog’s draft expert is very opposed to taking a running back in the first round which hurts the grade tremendously as other needs haven’t been met including defensive back for Raiders nation. Grade: C
Baltimore Ravens select Marquise Brown. Hollywood is a dynamo speedster catching balls from Mayfield and Murray the past two years. He can blow the top off a defense and juke anyone out. Concerns lie in durability and intelligence with route trees. Comparisons to DeSean Jackson are worthy and he can help Lamar Jackson if he can get open early. Smart pick for Baltimore as they target their major need even as they trade back. Grade: B-
Washington Redskins select Montez Sweat. The Skins drive back up to get Montez Sweat. He has a history with off field issue and a medical issue but he ran 4.41 at the Combine and blew the measurables away. Had good production at Mississippi State and falls into the lineup to help Ryan Kerrigan get to the passer. Gave up a lot but is a better pick than Haskins to fill the huge need. Grade: B-
Oakland Raiders select Johnathan Abram. With the third pick in the first round for the Raiders, did Gruden pick his best one? Needing secondary help, the Raiders select a physical, versatile, blur of a safety to really help this Raiders defense. Proved himself against some of the best in the SEC, Abrams can get it done. But with Karl Josephs still on the roster and a more glaring need at corner with many available, was there a better option? Grade: B
Los Angeles Chargers select Jerry Tillery. Can there be any more defensive lineman drafted? Tillery is a smart, smart player who is so much more than football. Could be a problem but the talent is really there. He flashed at Notre Dame throughout his career but needs to come and compete every single game. Chargers didn’t have a ton of needs so this is okay but I think there were better players available including Jawaan Taylor to protect Rivers in his last years. Grade: D
Seattle Seahawks select L.J. Collier. Reach all the way. Collier flashed as a Horned Frog in just one season but this is incredibly early for a guy that needs a ton of work to be worth a first round pick. To use this here after trading Frank Clark is a head scratcher with offensive lineman still out there to protect your investment in Russell Wilson. Grade: D-
New York Giants select Deandre Baker. The Giants trade back into the first round to take the first cornerback in this draft with an accomplished corner in Baker. The Georgia product produced all of his career against top tier talent. The measurables are good enough but he isn’t necessarily graded as a true shutdown #1 due to his height and speed. And trading back in will cost too much. Grade: D+
Atlanta Falcons select Kaleb McGary. The Falcons double down on the offensive lineman with a good but not great lineman from Washington. McGary is probably a guard when it’s all said and done so trading back into the first is a little strange. The Falcons are trying to help Matt Ryan but is the draft capital worth it? Grade: D+
New England Patriots select N’Keal Harry. To end Round 1, Brady snags another target to replace Josh Gordon. Harry checks a lot of Patriot boxes and can make an immediate impact for the Patriots as they try to defend their title. I thought they would trade back to a quarterback-needy team with Drew Lock still on the board but Harry is an impact #1 receiver who can step right in. Besides who is smarter than Bill? Grade: B+

Best Remaining:

Jawaan Taylor – The tackle from Florida was a Top-15 projected pick and won’t last long.
Drew Lock – Huge arm talent that battled at Mizzou, he will make someone happy.
Greedy Williams – At 6’3”, Williams has lock-down talent and ideal size.
D.K. Metcalf – Wowed at the Combine but clearly wasn’t enough for this project.
Cody Ford – Versatile and talented, it’s a surprise he’s still here in Day 2.
Irv Smith Jr – He can catch and fly around and meets needs for many teams early