NFL Draft: Grading the Cleveland Browns and 31 other team’s first round
By Chad Porto
NFC East
New York (Giants) – OT Andrew Thomas (Georgia)
The New York Giants have built, on paper, a really good team offensively. Now they just need Daniel Jones to continue to develop and Saquon Barkley to stay healthy and this Giants offense will be much improved. Putting, arguably, the best tackle prospect on the left side of the line didn’t hurt. Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs was the guy I would’ve picked first but to each their own.
Grade: A- (I had Thomas No. 2 on my tackle big board)
Philadelphia – WR Jalen Reagor (TCU)
It feels like wide receivers have the lowest likelihood of panning out. Maybe that’s just because as a Browns fan, I’m not used to seeing guys actually develop unless we trade for them. Jalen Reagor is one of many talented prospects but will he make an impact right away? Odds are no. For a team that has a window to work with, not maximizing the pick better could hurt them.
Grade: B- (Receivers are the NFL version of basketball centers, they get too much hype, take forever to get good and rarely pan out it feels like)
Dallas – WR CeeDee Lamb (Oklahoma)
With Jerry Jones picking rookies from Discovery One and telling coach Mike McCarthy, “I can’t do that, Dave,” anything was possible. The AI from the future that is Jones made the obvious pick by going over the Red River to get CeeDee Lamb fro Oklahoma for Dak Prescot to throw to. This is another team with a lot of wholes but with how touted Lamb was, it was hard to pass up getting a guy many thought would be gone by No. 8 at No. 17.
Grade: B+ (Lamb fell for a reason)
Washington – DE Chase Young (OSU)
What can be said? The Redskins are trash, and they needed twelve first-round draft picks to get noticeably better. They need offensive line help, receiver help, quarterback help and let’s not even look at the linebackers or secondary. Yet, Chase Young is supposedly so good he’s a can’t miss prospect. He’s going to redefine the team and blah blah blah. Washington better hope the Mel Kiper’s are right, otherwise they just set their franchise back even further.
Grade: A (It’s still Washington)