Minnesota Vikings
Donovan Jackson, G, Ohio State, first round
The Vikings were laser-focused on improving the interior of their offensive line. For good reason. The group was terrible in brutal late-season losses to the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams. After adding right guard Will Fries and center Ryan Kelly in free agency, Donovan Jackson was the final piece of the rebuild. The Vikings now have the makings of one of their best offensive lines in a long, long time.
Detroit Lions
Ahmed Hassanein, Edge, Boise State, sixth round
I’m not sure what sort of professional football player Ahmed Hassanein is going to become and I didn’t see much of his play at Boise State. I’m just fascinated by his journey from Egypt to the NFL.
Green Bay Packers
Matthew Golden, WR, Texas, first round
This was an easy choice as Matthew Golden was the only player drafted by the Green Bay Packers that I liked. Fellow receiver Savion Williams was a pre-draft curiosity for his size and running ability with the ball in his hands. Then I discovered that he has terrible hands and I was done with him. That flawed trait makes him a perfect Packers receiver. I do like the Golden selection. He immediately becomes the team’s most talented receiver.
Chicago Bears
Zah Frazier, CB, UTSA, fifth round
If the Vikings were to select a late-round corner, Zah Frazier was one of my favorites. I believe that he’s a steal in the fifth round.
New York Giants
Cam Skattebo, RB, Arizona State, fourth round
How can you not like a player named Cam Skattebo. On the field, he’s a blast of a back.
Philadelphia Eagles
Kyle McCord, QB, Syracuse, sixth round
From Jihaad Campbell to Andrew Mukuba to Ty Robinson, the Philadelphia Eagles had a lot of players that I liked. They often do. I’m going with late-round quarterback Kyle McCord. The college games that I mostly closely watched last season were each of Cal’s games. Of the quarterbacks that I most closely watched, and that included top pick Cam Ward, Kyle McCord was the best. Ward struggled through three quarters in Berkeley. Thanks to a gassed Cal defense and a load of officiating help, he did lead Miami back in the fourth quarter. McCord picked Cal apart from start to finish. Based on that game, I would be far more happy with McCord as my young quarterback than Ward.
Washington Commanders
Trey Amos, CB, Mississippi, second round
For the bulk of the pre-draft process, I had Trey Amos as a first-round pick. The Commanders happily had Amos fall into their laps late in the second round.
Dallas Cowboys
Shavon Revel Jr., CB, East Carolina, third round
Like Trey Amos, I was stunned that Shavon Revel Jr. fell so far from the first round. Revel fell just over a dozen picks further.
Atlanta Falcons
Xavier Watts, S, Notre Dame, third round
Personally, much of the excitement of the draft’s third round was the potential fall of Xavier Watts to the Vikings #97 pick. I have no idea if the Vikings were even interested in Watts. I sure was. The Notre Dame connection made him an intriguing heir to the great Harrison Smith. Watts was still on the board at #95. Only the Eagles were in front of the Vikings and they’d selected Andrew Mukuba in the second round. In a blink, my hopes were dashed as the Atlanta Falcons traded into the 96th spot and the Vikings traded back to #102. The Falcons selected Xavier Watts.
Carolina Panthers
Cam Jackson, DT, Florida, sixth round
Through the draft evaluation process, Cam Jackson emerged as one of my favorite later round defensive tackles. So, he’s my favorite pick of the Carolina Panthers.
New Orleans Saints
Quincy Riley, CB, Louisville, fourth round
Quincy Riley was simply one of my favorite corners in the draft. Many draft pundits had him firmly in the Day 3 area. I was fairly certain that his draft window opened in the second round. Seeing as he went in the fourth round, I guess that those pundits had it about right.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State, first round
Emeka Egbuka was my favorite receiver in the draft. He edges second-round pick Benjamin Morrison as my favorite pick of the Carolina Panthers.
Los Angeles Rams
Josaiah Stewart, Edge, Michigan, third round
Josaiah Stewart was the only draft pick of the Los Angeles Rams that I liked.
San Francisco 49ers
Alfred Collins, DT, Texas, second round
CJ West, DT, Indiana, fourth round
The San Francisco 49ers clearly focused on improving their defense. They drafted five defensive players before they selected their first offensive player. Because of the Vikings needs, I focused on the defensive tackles in the pre-draft process. Alfred Collins and CJ West emerged as two of my favorites.
Arizona Cardinals
Will Johnson, CB, Michigan, second round
If health doesn’t derail the start of Will Johnson’s NFL career, the Arizona Cardinals got a wonderful steal in the second round. No injury questions and he’s probably a Top-10 pick.
Seattle Seahawks
Grey Zabel, OL, North Dakota State, first round
For the past month, Grey Zabel had emerged as “my guy” for the Vikings. For the bulk of that month, I was convinced that he’d be available at #24. I even thought he might be available after a little trade-back. For the past week, I had become convinced that he wouldn’t make it to the Vikings. The damn, dirty Seattle Seahawks were going to crush my dreams. They did.
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