Many undrafted free agents have signed or will be signing with teams and a lot more action will continue throughout the week.
Who won this draft? Who lost this draft?
For me, the Cleveland Browns, New England Patriots, and Carolina Panthers come to mind. All three teams improved several positions of need while also adding excellent value picks later in the draft.
I appreciate that there is not a "Loser" listed on the post, Corey, because I'm of the camp that there are no losers in the Draft. With that in mind, not to be cliche with "the FANS win" kind of rhetoric, I believe the true winners are ALL of the drafted QBs. I was actually talking about this with HOF QB Kurt Warner on Twitter over the weekend (subtle flex) that it does seem like every QB prospect that got built up or ripped apart during this process all ended up in places that seem like where they are meant to be and where they can find success.
The Big 5:
Trevor Lawrence, JAX / Zach Wilson, NYJ / Trey Lance, SF / Justin Fields, CHI / Mac Jones, NE
The Developmental QBs:
Kyle Trask, TB / Kellen Mond, MIN / Davis Mills, HOU
Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell have to be draft weekend winners, right? After getting laughed at for Campbell's kneecap biting comments at his introductory presser, the Lions went right out and drafted a number of guys who fit the mold he was talking about and got good grades from most of the media for it. The rebuild is still going to take a while in Detroit, but this first draft under the new regime certainly seems like a heckuva good first step.
While I'm pretty happy overall with my Fins draft (although missing Javonte Williams stings), I think Denver had a great draft. They got a few guys that I had hoped Miami would pick up.
Chicago lost. They’re in win-now mode. Dalton isn’t the answer... and Fields isn’t ready. They mortgaged the future to get a project QB (yes he’s athletic and he’s a canon for an arm, but accuracy and decision making on short to intermediate throws needs huge improvement) and will feel pressure to put him in early. Fields will struggle, Nagy and Pace will get fired, and there’s no guarantee what a new regime and no system will do to help Fields’ development.
Where I’ve we seen this before? Prospect who needs work gets rushed to play to save a coach’s job, staff gets fired, QB’s development gets hampered by continually changing offensive system, exacerbated by a lack of draft capital due to trading up and a dire salary cap situation....
The Trey Lance pick was huge for the 49ers and they finally realized they needed some bigger bodies to block the middle regardless who is the QB. Sermon reminds me of Frank Gore. Really wished they would have picked Cade Johnson late but otherwise they had a great draft.
As a Giants fan, I’m pretty happy with how their draft went. Hard not to chalk the movement this year to the “Joe Judge” effect but being able to respond on the fly to being skipped by the Eagles and pick up a future 1 is huge. Giants are now positioned to move on if Jones doesn’t pan out this year while getting another playmaker and EDGE in round 2 where the value lined up (& after trading down, again)
The Chiefs positioned their roster significantly with 2 picks in Humphrey and Bolton. Add to that though. Trey Smith is not just a fluke 6th rounder. Due to uneven play in 2020 and the blood clot, Smith fell from grace and the Chiefs added a starter quality player with a great 6th round pick. Those 3 choices are top notch. I add that Cornell Powell adds quality to the front end of their WR corp. I see him as their future Possession type WR or "X" man. So they have WR#1-Ty Hill, WR#1A-Mecole Hardman, Possession guy added in Powell and apparently the CHiefs have at least disclosed expanded use of Demarcus Robinson. This addition is a sleeper pick that I am very big on. Noah Gray adds versatility to the TE mix. This was perhaps Veach's best draft. -- David Bell - ArrowheadOne. I gave the draft a "Woot!, Woot!". rating.
I have a seemingly controversial opinion which is that I don't think the Dolphins had a good draft at all. Their offensive line was terrible last year and got worse when they traded Flowers and let their center walk only to replace him with someone that PFF has graded as one of the worst in the league. I get moving Hunt to guard might actually be an upgrade over Flowers but I still think adding Sewell would have been a way bigger help to Tua than Waddle will be. I also think they should have added one of the interior guys like Humphrey in the second or at least Quinn Meinerz or Green in the third. Part of this assessment though is based on me thinking the weapons are fine between Parker, Fuller, Gesicki, Preston Williams and the rest. But I'd have felt way better about Dolphins if they went Sewell in first, a WR with that second 2nd round pick and than Meinerz or Green in third (or Sewell, Humphrey, and someone like Dyami Brown in third).
I am biased, but I think the Jets had a great draft. Top 4 picks were all in my top 60, and Nasirildeen in round 6 looks to be good value if he is healthy. Hate to name a loser, but I think the Saints were one that didn’t match my rankings, thought they had a few reaches and Book in round 4 was way too rich for me.
Based on the commentary that's come out after the draft, a lot of people owe the Raiders an apology for jumping to conclusions about the Leatherwood pick.
I appreciate that there is not a "Loser" listed on the post, Corey, because I'm of the camp that there are no losers in the Draft. With that in mind, not to be cliche with "the FANS win" kind of rhetoric, I believe the true winners are ALL of the drafted QBs. I was actually talking about this with HOF QB Kurt Warner on Twitter over the weekend (subtle flex) that it does seem like every QB prospect that got built up or ripped apart during this process all ended up in places that seem like where they are meant to be and where they can find success.
The Big 5:
Trevor Lawrence, JAX / Zach Wilson, NYJ / Trey Lance, SF / Justin Fields, CHI / Mac Jones, NE
The Developmental QBs:
Kyle Trask, TB / Kellen Mond, MIN / Davis Mills, HOU
The College Heroes:
Ian Book, NO / Sam Ehlinger, IND
Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell have to be draft weekend winners, right? After getting laughed at for Campbell's kneecap biting comments at his introductory presser, the Lions went right out and drafted a number of guys who fit the mold he was talking about and got good grades from most of the media for it. The rebuild is still going to take a while in Detroit, but this first draft under the new regime certainly seems like a heckuva good first step.
While I'm pretty happy overall with my Fins draft (although missing Javonte Williams stings), I think Denver had a great draft. They got a few guys that I had hoped Miami would pick up.
Jets did great - loaded up on support for Wilson.
Chicago lost. They’re in win-now mode. Dalton isn’t the answer... and Fields isn’t ready. They mortgaged the future to get a project QB (yes he’s athletic and he’s a canon for an arm, but accuracy and decision making on short to intermediate throws needs huge improvement) and will feel pressure to put him in early. Fields will struggle, Nagy and Pace will get fired, and there’s no guarantee what a new regime and no system will do to help Fields’ development.
Where I’ve we seen this before? Prospect who needs work gets rushed to play to save a coach’s job, staff gets fired, QB’s development gets hampered by continually changing offensive system, exacerbated by a lack of draft capital due to trading up and a dire salary cap situation....
Oh yeah... it’s the Bears. Again.
For Fields’ sake I hope I’m wrong.
The Trey Lance pick was huge for the 49ers and they finally realized they needed some bigger bodies to block the middle regardless who is the QB. Sermon reminds me of Frank Gore. Really wished they would have picked Cade Johnson late but otherwise they had a great draft.
As a Giants fan, I’m pretty happy with how their draft went. Hard not to chalk the movement this year to the “Joe Judge” effect but being able to respond on the fly to being skipped by the Eagles and pick up a future 1 is huge. Giants are now positioned to move on if Jones doesn’t pan out this year while getting another playmaker and EDGE in round 2 where the value lined up (& after trading down, again)
The New York Football Giants we’re definitely a winner especially with all the draft capital they acquired.
The Chiefs positioned their roster significantly with 2 picks in Humphrey and Bolton. Add to that though. Trey Smith is not just a fluke 6th rounder. Due to uneven play in 2020 and the blood clot, Smith fell from grace and the Chiefs added a starter quality player with a great 6th round pick. Those 3 choices are top notch. I add that Cornell Powell adds quality to the front end of their WR corp. I see him as their future Possession type WR or "X" man. So they have WR#1-Ty Hill, WR#1A-Mecole Hardman, Possession guy added in Powell and apparently the CHiefs have at least disclosed expanded use of Demarcus Robinson. This addition is a sleeper pick that I am very big on. Noah Gray adds versatility to the TE mix. This was perhaps Veach's best draft. -- David Bell - ArrowheadOne. I gave the draft a "Woot!, Woot!". rating.
I have a seemingly controversial opinion which is that I don't think the Dolphins had a good draft at all. Their offensive line was terrible last year and got worse when they traded Flowers and let their center walk only to replace him with someone that PFF has graded as one of the worst in the league. I get moving Hunt to guard might actually be an upgrade over Flowers but I still think adding Sewell would have been a way bigger help to Tua than Waddle will be. I also think they should have added one of the interior guys like Humphrey in the second or at least Quinn Meinerz or Green in the third. Part of this assessment though is based on me thinking the weapons are fine between Parker, Fuller, Gesicki, Preston Williams and the rest. But I'd have felt way better about Dolphins if they went Sewell in first, a WR with that second 2nd round pick and than Meinerz or Green in third (or Sewell, Humphrey, and someone like Dyami Brown in third).
Robert Saleh and Joe Douglas. The New York Jets. #NewZachCity
I am biased, but I think the Jets had a great draft. Top 4 picks were all in my top 60, and Nasirildeen in round 6 looks to be good value if he is healthy. Hate to name a loser, but I think the Saints were one that didn’t match my rankings, thought they had a few reaches and Book in round 4 was way too rich for me.
I absolutely love what Cleveland did not just this weekend, but all offseason. They’ve filled every hole on the roster from last year.
Bears win the draft every year lol. How's that worked out the last 30 seasons?
Based on the commentary that's come out after the draft, a lot of people owe the Raiders an apology for jumping to conclusions about the Leatherwood pick.
Bears won. Texans lost
Chiefs and Patriots won the day!
Winner: Bears
Loser: Raiders
So who lost?