Winners and Losers: NFL Draft

Winner: Las Vegas Raiders

       The Raiders added an instant impact player in Ashton Jeanty sixth overall. While it may seem like too early for a running back, Ashton Jeanty was such an esteemed talent that I actually really like the pick, especially for a team like Las Vegas who I don't exactly expect to contend for the foreseeable future, so it is more important to add high end talent than to add a perfect roster or scheme fit. In round 2, they took another skill player in Jack Bech, who should get instant action in what has suddenly turned into a very solid receiving core with Brock Bowers and Jakobi Meyers. Later on, they picked several offensive lineman and tacked on 2 more receivers, most notably Donte Thornton Jr. and Caleb Rogers, both of whom were very good additions in later rounds, though they may have reached a bit on Thornton. 

       Many fans and the media were itching for them to take a QB, and I guess they did in the 6th round with North Dakota State's Cam Miller, though he wasn't exactly the most sought after prospect. While I may have liked to see them take a more highly touted signal caller, I can't hate on them adding higher value players, and there's always next year. The Raiders have a clear starter in Geno Smith, and it's not the worst thing in the world to wait another year for a top QB that you really love. 

LOSER: MINNESOTA VIKINGS
       It's hard to make a major impact with just 5 picks, but the Vikings just kept going lateral here. At 24, they reached on Donovan Jackson out of Ohio State, prioritizing their need at guard in the first round over the gaping hole in their secondary. One mistake, right, so that's fine? Surely they'll address either Cornerback or Safety with one of their remaining picks? Nope. While I did like the value of their later picks, Minnesota failed to address any major needs. 

        Tai Felton is a solid WR, and they did have a small need for depth their, but I don't think filling in a backup for Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and TJ Hockenson should've been their round 3 priority. They are headed into their first full season with a healthy J.J. McCarthy, and they failed to give him support on the defensive side on the ball. 

Winner: Cleveland Browns

      While the strategy may be a little confusing, you cannot deny the talent that Cleveland picked up across all 3 days. Starting early, the Browns shocked everyone by trading out of #2, securing themselves another first round pick next year and still picking up a top player in the draft in Mason Graham. With the first pick in the second round, they went with Carson Schwesinger, and while he may have been a minor reach, I believe he provides solid value given their need for a Linebacker. Cleveland picked Quinshon Judkins later in the 2nd, who will be a strong presence in their RB room, and they added to that later with Tennessee's Dylan Sampson.

       It should be mentioned that I did not love the Dillon Gabriel pick, especially when they picked Shedeur Sanders just a day later. Gabriel is a small, older prospect who will likely be beaten out by Sanders, and probably shouldn't have been picked ahead of him to begin with. If you are going to pass on someone in favor of a worse prospect because of his attitude, it doesn't exactly make sense to pick that prospect with attitude problems just 2 rounds later. 

Loser: New Orleans Saints

       The Saints reached at 9 for what I don't even think was that big of a need in Kelvin Banks Jr., but I was happy when they went QB in round 2. Derek Carr's availability for next season has been in question for a while now, so it was certainly a necessity, I just didn't love the fit or value they got in Tyler Shough. Shough is 25 and doesn't move particularly well, and with the rate that QBs were being picked early on, I think New Orleans could've waited another round and still gotten a significantly better prospect. 

       The rest of the draft was really just generally unimpressive, though I did like their selection of Devin Neal as a player, despite the fact that he won't see early career touches very often. Alvin Kamara is the undisputed RB1 and handles the bulk of receiving touches as well, so there is no case to be made for an RB by committee style offense. Quincy Riley was also a solid selection late in the 4th round, and probably the only pick that checks every box for them in this draft. Riley dropped way further than most people thought, and filled a big hole on the team, so time will tell if he develops into the prospect that many think he could be. 

Winner: Colston Loveland 

       Loveland and Penn State's Tyler Warren headlined this tight end class, as both were consensus top 10 prospects, but it appeared clear that Warren would be the first one picked. Apparently not. Loveland went 10th overall to the Bears, where he will play with last year's #1 overall pick, and have an opportunity to learn behind Cole Kmet and be coached by one of the best offensive minds in the league in new Head Coach Ben Johnson. 

       I don't think it's that bad for Tyler Warren, either. He is headed to Indianapolis, where he will get undisputed first team reps on a solid team. Head Coach Shane Steichen is an excellent offensive mind, and played a huge part in Dallas Goedert taking the next step when he was with the Eagles. Steichen hasn't had as good of a development process as he was expecting with the Colts offense so far, but I have hope that his past expertise in developing players will lead to similar success with Warren.