My reaction to first round picks

Well! That was fun. The mock draft over performed expectations matching 11 players to teams/slots. All in all it was a rather straightforward draft after a four day lead up that suggested a ton of uncertainty.

Which teams did well? Which teams did not?

Here is my initial reaction to each first round pick…

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1. Tennessee Titans – Cam Ward, QB

👍️ Can’t criticize the decision. There was one possible franchise QB in this draft, and the Titans new regime got their guy.

2. Jacksonville (TRADE) – Travis Hunter, WR/CB

❤️ Have to like everything about how James Gladstone has handled his first few months as GM. Is this an overpay - maybe. But a team that needed a spark took a swing to go up and get a slam dunk all pro.

3/25. New York Giants – Abdul Carter, EDGE and Jaxson Dart, QB

❤️ Carter is a great fit and addition. The Giants front seven is now stacked and will be a top rated unit entering the season. Dart in Daboll’s offense on his own makes a lot of sense, but this seems a year early with Wilson and Winston already signed in March. This seems like more of a conflict than a solution.

4. New England Patriots – Will Campbell, OT

Patriots desperately needed protection for Drake Maye, and have now sured up the left tackle spot. There are still doubts about his longevity at the position which could move him to guard in the future.

5. Cleveland Browns (TRADE) – Mason Graham, DT

Browns are building towards 2026 after living in salary cap misery with the Watson aftermath. trading back for assets is a positive, as is adding a prospect like Graham to the defensive line.

6. Las Vegas Raiders – Ashton Jeanty, RB

❤️ ❤️ Talked about it for weeks on the show, this was a move that Pete Carroll and John Spytek had to make. Is he going to a finished roster? No. But the Raiders are trying to compete now, and Jeanty is a needed deadly weapon in the division from hell.

7. New York Jets – Armand Membou, OT

👍️ Aaron Glenn said the quiet offseason is by design. Membou may solve the right tackle issue once and for all. Get ready for the Jets to run the football - a lot.

8. Carolina Panthers – Tet McMillan, WR

Late betting steam telegraphed this one. Bit surprised. Another weapon for Bryce the way the offense came on with Idzik’s ability to develop WR’s is a positive. But there are still huge holes on defense.

9. New Orleans Saints – Kelvin Banks, OL

Immediate possible replacement for Trevor Penning who had his option declined. Second first round pick used on a tackle in a row. Sets the stage for a QB in 2026.

10. Chicago Bears – Colston Loveland, TE

👍️ Perfect fit along side Cole Kmet in this Bears offense. Offensive line built up in free agency, weapon added in the draft, new play caller, it’s all here for Williams to succeed.

11. San Francisco 49ers – Mykel Williams, EDGE

❤️ Win for the 49ers here with Williams falling a couple spots lower than expected. Robert Saleh gets to rebuild the defense with a great pass rush prospect opposite Bosa.

12. Dallas Cowboys – Tyler Booker, OL

Indifferent. Fits what the new head coach wants his offense to be build around the run. Protection for Dak who is less mobile each year is a positive too. On the other hand, another weapon opposite Lamb would have made more impact in the NFC East.

13. Miami Dolphins – Kenneth Grant, DT

Replaces the departure of Calais Campbell and adds depth to the interior of the defensive line. Neglecting the offensive line after the issues they had last year is an interesting choice. Never underestimate the value of a good nose tackle.

14. Indianapolis Colts – Tyler Warren, TE

Shane Steichen wanted a tight end more than any other coach publicly wanted a position drafted - and he made it known. He may have preferred Loveland, but he must be thrilled with Warren here.

15/26. Atlanta Falcons – Jalon Walker, LB and James Pearce, DL

👎️ Atlanta made it known their priority was to add to the pass rush. They did it twice. Walker at 15 makes a lot more sense than trading up for Pearce at 26 - drawing the thumbs down.

16. Arizona Cardinals – Walter Nolen, DT

❤️ Love this addition. Felt like the Cardinals were a defensive lineman away, and have a well touted prospect with Nolen that fits Gannon’s style. Sneaky unit and team entering this season.

17. Cincinnati Bengals – Shemar Stewart, EDGE

Quality pick for Al Golden to begin building his new, young defense. It’s what he was brought in to do. All eyes now on Trey Hendrickson who I think the team should move on from, instead of paying.

18. Seattle Seahawks – Grey Zabel, OL

👍️ Given how sensitive Sam Darnold is to pressure, Seattle did a right thing adding Zabel to provide much needed help on the offensive line. His versatility makes him an option at multiple positions. This was the right choice.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Emeka Egbuka, WR

❤️❤️ Evans - Godwin - McMillan - Egbuka. Goodness. What a list of weapons for Baker Mayfield and new OC Josh Glizzard. Possibly a reach, and definitely a curveball, but it’s hard to argue with this offense.

20. Denver Broncos – Jahdae Barron, CB

The Broncos defense was tracking to be the best in the league. Did they need to add Barron with McMillan there? Maybe not, but he is only going to make the ceiling for this elite defense better.

21. Pittsburgh Steelers – Derrick Harmon, DT

👎️ Interesting decision. The Steelers said they want to go into training camp with four quarterbacks. They currently have Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson. Perhaps they add on day two or three, but I am surprised they did not add Sanders after the way Tomlin spoke about him. There is a lack of veterans out there as options too. Not sure where they go to find their next QB.

22. Los Angeles Chargers – Omarion Hampton, RB

👍️ Have to imagine Harbaugh was thrilled Denver passed on Hampton at #20. Everything about him is such a great fit for what Harbaugh wants in a back. He is going to have plenty of room to break out too. Solid choice.

23. Green Bay Packers – Matthew Golden, WR

The Green Bay Packers do not have a pure #1 wide receiver and it cost them in 2024. Does Matthew Golden change that? I am not so sure.

24. Minnesota Vikings – Donovan Jackson, OL

Safe pick building in-front of JJ McCarthy.

(25 and 26 explained above with NYG and ATL)

27. Baltimore Ravens – Malaki Starks, S

❤️ ❤️ What a win for the Ravens this far down the board. Off the record scouting reports rave about Starks play and character. He just fits what the Ravens want and value so well. Combined with Kyle Hamilton, this is a top safety duo in the league.

28. Detroit Lions – Tyleik Williams, DT

👎️ I didn’t see this anywhere. Probably the biggest surprise of day one. Not sure where he fits along side McNeil and Reader, but the Lions run defense depth got a boost here.

29. Washington Commanders – Josh Conerly Jr, OL

Double down by Washington on their offseason priority of building up the offensive line. Suffered an injury which made his stock fall, could turn into value for the Commanders.

30. Buffalo Bills – Maxwell Hairston, CB

Good fit for the defensive scheme. Has a ton of speed and ability to play off coverage then read and react like McDermott asks of his CB’s.

31. Philadelphia Eagles (TRADE) – Jihaad Campbell, LB

❤️ ❤️ How do the Eagles always do this? It seems like every season they are able to see though injury or character concerns to grab an elite defender late. Campbell has a serious labrum injury and was mentioned as a PUP candidate. They must see different. If they are right, it’s another value grab on a top 15 talent.

32. Kansas City Chiefs (TRADE) – Josh Simmons, OL

The Chiefs have attempted to fix their tackle issues in the draft several times. Is this the time they get it right? Simmons was projected as a top OL pick before he suffered a torn patellar injury in October. On the broadcast Nick Saban said he would be a top five pick if he entered the draft next year.