NFL Draft: Grading the Cleveland Browns and 31 other team’s first round

NFC South

Tampa Bay – OT Tristan Wirfs (Iowa)

Personally I don’t see the Tom Brady to Tampa experiment going well in the first place. That said, getting Tristan Wirfs is the right call if Tom Brady were 32 and not 42. Wirfs has that wrestling balance that is so useful in other sports, but unfortunately, he can’t help Brady be accurate on deep balls.

Grade: B+ (A quarterback might have made more sense considering Brady’s age)

New Orleans – CEN Cesar Ruiz (Michigan)

If a man tells you he was born to play center in the NFL, it’s a safe bet that this man should be protecting a quarterback. The Saints have a lot of faith in BYU product Taysom Hill, to the point they see him as a potential replacement for franchise legend Drew Brees. Getting Cesar Ruiz to play in the middle of that offensive line to keep both men upright was a good call.

Grade: A- (A smart choice)

Atlanta – CB A. J. Terrell (Clemson)

The Falcons are a club that could probably use a guy everywhere in their club. They’re not a bad team what-so-ever but you know a lot of their pieces are aging out or gone from that Super Bowl team a few years back and a lot of positions are coming due. Securing the secondary was a smart choice but it’s one of many that needs to be done to improve the team.

Grade: A- (Not much else needs to be said)

Carolina – DT Derrick Brown (Auburn)

The Panthers are known for their defensive stalwarts more than anything since they came into the league. Dan Morgan, Luke Kuechly, Thomas Davis Sr., Julius Peppers, and now (hopefully) Derrick Brown. Browns has great interior D-line skills and can get to the quarterback like Warren Sapp used to. Assuming he pans out, the Panthers just got their next star.

Grade: A (It’d be an A+ if Christian McCaffery had any help on offense)