NFL Draft Accountability: Grading Our Final Intel Piece
In the pre-draft process it feels like every Tom, Dick and Harry writes an article or posts on social media claiming to have inside information.
Hell, we do it too.
But we’re doing something you won’t see anywhere else. We’re holding ourselves accountable and posting our hit rate on the final intel piece we posted in the lead-up to the draft.
Team-by-team, piece by piece, we’ll look at what we got right and what we got wrong.
We hope you enjoy.
Arizona Cardinals
What We Heard: This was a hard team to get a consensus on. Some sources say wide receiver—the team met with Matthew Golden at the combine—but others are adamant that defensive line would be the first round target. Arizona did bring in defensive linemen Walter Nolen, Femi Oladejo, James Pearce, Jalon Walker, Nic Scourton and Shemar Stewart in for visits and spent a serious amount of time with the defensive line group.
What Happened: The Cardinals did in fact select Walter Nolen with pick No. 16 overall in Round 1.
Grade: Hit
*
Atlanta Falcons
What We Heard: The name connected to Atlanta that surprised us the most? James Pearce Jr. from Tennessee. The former Vol is talented with an elite first step, but football character issues have been mentioned often throughout the process. The Falcons are desperate for a pass-rusher, though, and Pearce has talent.
What Happened: The Falcons drafted Jalon Walker at No. 15 overall but traded back into Round 1 to select Pearce at No. 26 overall.
Grade: Hit
*
Baltimore Ravens
What We Heard: It should be no surprise that the Ravens are all-in on the safety and cornerback classes. Malaki Starks would be the home run pick in Round 1 but the team also dug around on later options like Jaylen Reed and Jordan Riley throughout the process.
What Happened: The Ravens made Starks the pick at No. 27 overall.
Grade: Hit
*
Buffalo Bills
What We Heard: Trey Amos is the name we heard most often connected to the Bills. One interesting nugget: we heard the Bills spent more time at the University of Texas than any other team.
What Happened: Buffalo did select a cornerback, but it was Kentucky’s Maxwell Hairston over Amos. It was a surprise to us that Hairston was still on the board here.
Grade: Miss
*
Carolina Panthers
What We Heard: …it’s very hard to see Jalon Walker not being the target for Carolina given team needs and player value if he’s available…which is not certain.
What Happened: Carolina drafted WR Tetairoa McMillan—a surprise but a pick that aligned with late chatter that McMillan would go top 10.
Grade: Miss
*
Chicago Bears
What We Heard: Here’s an interesting nugget for you; the Bears didn’t bring in Tyler Warren or Colston Loveland during the process nor did they meet with them at the combine. But that doesn’t mean one of them wouldn’t be the pick if available.
What Happened: The Bears did in fact pick Loveland, a selection we consistently predicted for them in our mock drafts while others thought they would go with fellow TE Tyler Warren.
Grade: Hit
*
Cincinnati Bengals
What We Heard: Conventional wisdom has said defensive end here, but we’re picking up a lot of late buzz for linebacker Jihaad Campbell (Alabama). Campbell’s medicals have been iffy for some teams, but his ability to impact the entire field from a linebacker and edge role should be exciting in the AFC North. Shemar Stewart is a hot name here.
What Happened: Shemar Stewart was the Bengals’ pick at No. 17 overall; and Campbell fell to No. 32 due to medicals.
Grade: Hit
*
Cleveland Browns
What We Heard: Travis Hunter (WR/CB - Colorado) will be the pick at No. 2. With the first pick in the second round, the Browns are not expected to add his teammate quarterback Shedeur Sanders. One source told us “bringing them in together is a death sentence for Kevin Stefanski’s job security.”
What Happened: The Browns traded out of No. 2 overall, and while they didn’t pair Hunter with Shedeur Sanders, they did draft the Colorado quarterback in Round 5.
Grade: Miss
*
Dallas Cowboys
What We Heard: …we picked up chatter that the Dallas Cowboys want Walter Nolen, the defensive tackle from Ole Miss. The Cowboys did a ton of work on offensive linemen—notably interior players—and could be a trade back candidate, in which case Nolan makes more sense than if they stick and pick at No. 12
What Happened: Nolen ultimately wasn’t the pick as Dallas either couldn’t or didn’t trade back. But they did go interior offensive line with Tyler Booker in Round 1.
Grade: Hit and Miss
*
Denver Broncos
What We Heard: The Broncos have been very active in making calls to move up from No. 20 overall and could be attempting to get ahead of teams for running back Ashton Jeanty. If they can’t move up, we heard Denver has been very active in collecting information on the wide receiver class.
What Happened: Denver wasn’t able to move up and instead made a surprise pick with Texas CB Jahdae Barron.
Grade: Miss
*
Detroit Lions
What We Heard: There’s very little buzz coming out of Detroit, but we did hear the team did a lot of work (as expected) on the defensive line class. Ohio State’s Tyleik Williams is a defensive tackle to watch here.
What Happened: You guessed it…the Lions drafted Tyleik Williams as the surprise pick at No. 28 overall.
Grade: Hit
*
Green Bay Packers
What We Heard: Will the Packers finally buck tradition and draft a receiver in Round 1? Here’s what we know—Green Bay had visits with Emeka Egbuka, Matthew Golden (twice) and with Tetairoa McMillan.
What Happened: The Packers selected WR Matthew Golden.
Grade: Hit
*
Houston Texans
What We Heard: You might expect Houston to have done a ton of work on the offensive line—and they were active, but it was the defensive line that got a lot of work here, even if mostly on Day 2 players.
What Happened: The Texans traded out of Round 1.
Grade: Miss
*
Indianapolis Colts
What We Heard: We know the Colts need a tight end, and that’s the expected direction in Round 1, but did you know Indianapolis also brought in Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers for a 30 visit?
What Happened: The Colts drafted Tyler Warren at No. 14 overall; they did not select Quinn Ewers.
Grade: Hit and Miss
*
Jacksonville Jaguars
What We Heard: The hottest rumor in the week leading up to the draft was that Jacksonville would go offensive playmaker at No. 5 overall—either running back Ashton Jeanty or wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan. We think there’s a lot to that and would be surprised if the team went defense in Round 1.
What Happened: Jacksonville made the move of the draft, trading up to No. 2 overall and selecting an offensive playmaker in Travis Hunter.
Grade: Miss
*
Kansas City Chiefs
What We Heard: I don’t get the sense that offensive tackle in Round 1 is a priority but could be the pick if a player slips to them. KC did meet with Josh Conerly, Aireontae Ersery, and Josh Simmons pre-draft.
What Happened: Simmons did fall to Kansas City, who traded up one spot to select him at No. 31 overall.
Grade: Hit
*
Las Vegas Raiders
What We Heard: This has been an Ashton Jeanty landing spot forever, but what if he’s not there? Texas’ Kelvin Banks is a name we continued to hear connected to the Raiders and they did bring him in for a 30 visit.
What Happened: Jeanty was available, and the Raiders made him the pick at No. 6 overall.
Grade: Hit
*
Los Angeles Chargers
What We Heard: The entire NFL world expects an offensive playmaker here, but we keep hearing love for the edge-rusher class in Round 1 with a pick on Day 2 to bolster the offense at tight end (Mason Taylor) or wide receiver.
What Happened: The Chargers went the expected route and drafted RB Omarion Hampton in Round 1.
Grade: Miss
*
Los Angeles Rams
What We Heard: Here’s a fun one: The Rams have been connected to Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe. The idea, we’re told, is that he’d be used heavily in run-based packages early while learning the pro game under Matthew Stafford.
What Happened: The Rams had multiple opportunities to select Milroe, who went late in the third round, and did not select him.
Grade: Miss
*
Miami Dolphins
What We Heard: Cornerback and safety rank as the top needs, but Miami did a lot of offensive line work ahead of this draft and could sneak a pick in at tackle or guard in Round 1.
What Happened: Miami did in fact skip out on the secondary, but went with Michigan defensive tackle Kenneth Grant in Round 1.
Grade: Miss
*
Minnesota Vikings
What We Heard: If Minnesota sits tight at pick No. 24, expect a selection on defense. We’ve heard a lot of like for Shavon Revel (CB-East Carolina) and Carson Schwesinger (LB-UCLA) here but they aren’t likely Round 1 targets, rather names to remember on Day 2.
What Happened: Minnesota stuck at No. 24 overall, but they selected guard Donovan Jackson instead of going defense.
Grade: Miss
*
New England Patriots
What We Heard: Pick No. 4 overall has been on the trade block, we’re told, but with no bites as of now. This is still the favored spot for LSU’s Will Campbell but we get the sense the Pats would be very happy moving down a few picks and deciding between Armand Membou and Kelvin Banks Jr. in exchange for added draft capital.
What Happened: The Patriots selected Will Campbell, the chalk pick but a smart one.
Grade: Hit and Miss
*
New Orleans Saints
What We Heard: The sense from talking to sources is that the Saints won’t take a quarterback at No. 9 overall, but they would love to take one at No. 40 (Tyler Shough?). Instead, in Round 1, we expect Mykel Williams (Georgia) or Shemar Stewart (Texas A&M) at defensive end with a longshot chance for Jahdae Barron (CB-Texas) here.
What Happened: The Saints took Kelvin Banks at No. 9 overall, and then selected Tyler Shough with pick No. 40.
Grade: Miss and Hit
*
New York Giants
What We Heard: All signs point to Abdul Carter being the pick at No. 3 overall. But what about the quarterback? There are still sources who maintain that Shedeur Sanders could be the pick at No. 3, but it’s more likely the Giants look to move back into the first round from pick No. 34 overall. Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart is the name we’ve most heard connected to Giants’ head coach Brian Daboll, but is there consensus in the decision-making in this building? We’ll see.
What Happened: Carter was the pick at No. 3, and then the Giants traded back into Round 1 for Dart.
Grade: Hit and Hit
*
New York Jets
What We Heard: It’s been very quiet for the New York Jets, something we’re not accustomed to given the chatty nature of the former regimes. At No. 7 overall, Armand Membou (T-Missouri) is expected but we’ve heard enough buzz about Tyler Warren (TE-Penn State) and edge-rushers that we can’t completely rule that out.
What Happened: The Jets sat tight and selected T Armand Membou. We kind of hedged here, though, which is something we’ll be aware of in the future.
Grade: Half Hit
*
Philadelphia Eagles
What We Heard: The Eagles lost defensive backs C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Darius Slay—as well as Avonte Maddox and Isaiah Rodgers—and could once again go DB early. Malaki Starks (S-Georgia) would be the target if he’s somehow available at No. 32 overall.
What Happened: A run on defensive backs led Philadelphia to selecting LB Jihaad Campbell after he fell in the draft.
Grade: Miss
*
Pittsburgh Steelers
What We Heard: Quarterback in Round 1 is expected to be a talking point and we haven’t heard a consensus on if the team likes Shedeur Sanders enough to draft him at No. 21 overall. We have heard, however, that Pittsburgh has been all over the running back class. Without a second-round pick, running back is expected to be a Round 3 or Round 4 option.
What Happened: Pittsburgh did not select a quarterback in Round 1—in fact they didn’t until Round 6. The team did draft Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson in Round 3.
Grade: Hit
*
San Francisco 49ers
What We Heard: This will be a trench pick. Texas’ Kelvin Banks Jr., Ole Miss defensive tackle Walter Nolen, and Texas A&M edge-rusher Shemar Stewart are on the shortlist we heard about.
What Happened: The 49ers went with a trench pick—DE Mykel Williams, a player we expected to be off the board.
Grade: Half Hit
*
Seattle Seahawks
What We Heard: Seattle could go interior offensive line to fill a huge need, but we’ve heard an outside wide receiver is also likely as a Round 1 pick. Seattle has two picks very close together in Round 2 and has done a ton of work on Georgia center Jared Wilson.
What Happened: Seattle went with NDSU interior lineman Grey Zabel in Round 1 and didn’t draft a wide receiver until Round 5.
Grade: Half Hit
*
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
What We Heard: Tampa met twice with Texas WR Matthew Golden, an interesting name given the veteran wide receiver room here. Tampa was reportedly sniffing around Texas A&M hard in-season and the team is rumored to have a big grade on Shemar Stewart.
What Happened: Tampa did select a wide receiver—but it was Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka over Golden.
Grade: Miss
*
Tennessee Titans
What We Heard: It will be Cam Ward at No. 1 overall. No surprise. With pick No. 35, expect the Titans to go get a wide receiver. They could be a trade back into Round 1 team with eyes on Luther Burden III or Emeka Egbuka.
What Happened: The Titans took Ward—no surprise—but traded back from No. 33 overall and didn’t draft a receiver until Round 4.
Grade: Hit and Miss
*
Washington Commanders
What We Heard: A trade down shouldn’t surprise you if Washington doesn’t see the cornerback or edge-rusher on the board at No. 29 they want. This is an ideal landing spot for a Round 2 team trying to get back into the night for a quarterback.
What Happened: Washington surprised us with the pick of Josh Conerly Jr., a tackle from Oregon.
Grade: Miss
*
Not trying to nit pick, Chiefs traded down one pick.