Baltimore Ravens
1. Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame
1. Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa
2. David Ojabo, Edge, Michigan
3. Travis Jones, DT, Connecticut
4. Daniel Faalele, OT, Minnesota
4. Jalyn Armour-Davis, CB, Alabama
4. Charlie Kolar, TE, Iowa State
4. Jordan Stout, P, Penn State
4. Isaiah Likely, TE, Coastal Carolina
4. Damarion Williams, CB, Houston
6. Tyler Badie, RB, Missouri
That’s too damn many fourth-round picks.
It helps to have multiple picks in the first and fourth rounds. The Ravens made the best of all of their picks. They often do. The Ravens established a drafting system under the steady hand of Ozzie Newsome. They’ve continued that system under Eric DeCosta. They let the draft come to them. They rarely reach for a player. They simply draft good football players. Sounds easy. Isn’t that what every team does? It’s probably what every team tries to do. It’s so easy to stray from that path and chase an intriguing player with some intriguing trait. The Ravens don’t stray. They are also very selective in doling out second contracts. They let a lot of good, young players walk rather than paying large, second contracts. They essentially trade those players for compensatory picks. That strategy helps a team to end up with six fourth-round picks. As for this draft, they lucked into great football players in Kyle Hamilton and Tyler Linderbaum. Those weren’t genius picks. They were easy picks. The Ravens should send “thank you” notes to every team that drafted in front of them. The same goes for the selection of Travis Jones. Of their first nine picks, the Ravens drafted eight starters or significant contributors. That ninth pick? Due to a Pro Day injury, the Ravens will have to wait for David Ojabo. When he’s healthy, he might be the best player in their draft. Or second/third to Hamilton and/or Linderbaum. According to Peter King, the Ravens targeted Memphis receiver Calvin Austin III in the fourth round. The Pittsburgh Steelers snapped up Austin a pick before the Ravens were on the clock. The Ravens turned to Isaiah Likely. I really like Likely but Austin would’ve made this ridiculous draft class even more ridiculous.
New York Jets
1. Ahmad Gardner, CB, Cincinnati
1. Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State
1. Jermaine Johnson II, Edge, Florida State
2. Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State
3. Jeremy Ruckert, TE, Ohio State
4. Max Mitchell, OT, Louisiana
4. Micheal Clemons, DE, Texas A&M
The Jets finished their drafting early. It’s easy to like a draft that has three first round picks and four first round players. Ahmad Gardner, Garrett Wilson, Jermaine Johnson II, and Breece Hall might already be four of the best five players on the team’s roster.
Seattle Seahawks
1. Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State
2. Boye Mafe, Edge, Minnesota
2. Kenneth Walker III, RB, Michigan State
3. Abraham Lucas, OT, Washington State
4. Coby Bryant, CB, Cincinnati
5. Tariq Woolen, CB, UTSA
5. Tyreke Smith, Edge, Ohio State
7. Bo Melton, WR, Rutgers
7. Dareke Young, WR, Lenoir-Rhyne
It makes me sick to like anything that the Seahawks do. I like this draft. One of the reasons I like this draft is that several players that I liked for the Vikings are part of it. Boye Mafe, Coby Bryant, Tariq Woolen, and Bo Melton. I can’t help but think that this is the sort of draft that they should’ve had while they had Russell Wilson. The Seahawks never seemed interested in investing high end picks in the front line protection of their franchise quarterback. Granted, they never drafted high enough to add an offensive lineman the quality of Charles Cross. Still, offensive linemen in the first and third rounds? When did they ever do that for Wilson?
Buffalo Bills
1. Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida
2. James Cook, RB, Georgia
3. Terrel Bernard, LB, Baylor
5. Khalil Shakir, WR, Boise State
6. Matt Araiza, P, San Diego State
6. Christian Benford, CB, Villanova
6. Luke Tenuta, OT, Virginia Tech
7. Baylon Spector, LB, Clemson
It’s not like the talented Buffalo Bills needed any help from this draft. I like the Bills draft a lot mostly for their first two picks. Kaiir Elam and James Cook were two of my favorites in this draft. Tre’Davious White and Elam might already be one of my favorite cornerback combos in the league. Dalvin Cook’s little brother will make an already potent offense an even more potent offense.
Kansas City Chiefs
1. Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington
1. George Karlaftis. Edge, Purdue
2. Skyy Moore, WR, Western Michigan
2. Bryan Cook, S, Cincinnati
3. Leo Chanel, LB, Wisconsin
4. Joshua Williams, CB, Fayetteville State
5. Darrian Kinnard, OG, Kentucky
7. Jaylen Watson, CB, Washington State
7. Isaih Pacheco, RB, Rutgers
7. Nazeeh Johnson, S, Marshall
The rich get richer. It’s much easier to have a sparkling draft when a team has multiple first and second round picks. The Kansas City Chiefs made the most of those picks. Trent McDuffie was one of my favorite cornerbacks in the draft. I see some Antoine Winfield in him. The Chiefs appeared to have a primary focus on the secondary. Of the their ten picks, two were corners and two were safeties. From McDuffie to Darrian Kennard, I can easily see seven players being early starters/significant contributors.
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