NFL Draft 2018 Results: Complete Overview and Grades of Rounds 1-3
While there are still four rounds left to go in the 2018 NFL draft, the reality is that there's a good chance the only rookies that are going to make an actual impact on the field in the near future are already on your team's roster.
Sure, there's the occasional late-round steal that breaks out into a star or at least a starter. But the vast majority of players in rounds 4-7 won't end up making or breaking a draft class.
So that makes the end of Round 3 a good time to start assessing just how good a draft class is. With 100 picks now in the past, we can get an idea of how each draft class is shaping up and who appears to have received good value for their picks.
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Below is a list of all the picks thus far, followed by a grade for each of the 32 teams based on the perceived value they got out of their picks and a closer look at some of the better classes.
Team Grades Through Three Rounds
Arizona Cardinals: A-
Atlanta Falcons: B+
Baltimore Ravens: B+
Buffalo Bills: B+
Carolina Panthers: A-
Chicago Bears: B+
Cincinnati Bengals: B+
Cleveland Browns: B
Dallas Cowboys: A
Denver Broncos: B+
Detroit Lions: B-
Green Bay Packers: A-
Houston Texans: B
Indianapolis Colts: A-
Jacksonville Jaguars: A
Kansas City Chiefs: B
Los Angeles Chargers: A-
Los Angeles Rams: B
Miami Dolphins: A
Minnesota Vikings: B-
New England Patriots: B+
New Orleans Saints: B-
New York Giants: A
New York Jets: A-
Oakland Raiders: B-
Philadelphia Eagles: B
Pittsburgh Steelers: B+
Seattle Seahawks: C+
San Francisco 49ers: B+
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: A
Tennessee Titans: A-
Washington Redskins: A-
Best in Class
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys didn't make any headlines with this draft class. But they will once the season starts.
Jerry Jones and Co.'s approach to this draft wasn't flashy. They didn't make any deals or draft any of the biggest names in the class, but what they did do was get three players in the first three rounds that should be contributors this season.
It starts with Boise State linebacker Leighton Vander Esch. His physicality is impressive at 6'4" and 256 pounds, but it's the athleticism that fans in Dallas are going to love.
He has the ability to cover tight ends and running backs while also being one of the most dominant run stuffers in the nation last season, per Pro Football Focus:
Along with athletic linebackers, the Cowboys certainly understand the importance of a dominant offensive line, and they added to theirs with the addition of Texas offensive lineman Connor Williams.
Williams has some question marks, but the primary one is whether he'll play tackle or guard. At No. 50, it doesn't matter. He gives them options up front and could develop into a serious road-grader at either position.
Colorado State wide receiver Michael Gallup is a receiver that can go up and get the ball, which should aid in replacing Dez Bryant. Gallup was productive in college and presents good value in the third round.
The Cowboys did a great job of securing talent without having to give up anything in trades or reaching for any of their picks.
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars are another example of what can happen when a team just stands pat and takes whoever is available.
Adding young defensive talent might not have been a need, but the Jaguars went ahead and did it anyway.
As Jordan Schultz of Yahoo Sports noted, it's leading to an embarrassment of riches on that side of the ball:
Taven Bryan is one of the best penetrating defensive tackles in this draft. With the proliferation of edge-rushers in the game today, that's a huge asset. He should take advantage of plenty of one-on-one blocking situations on the inside of this defensive line.
Then there's third-round pick Ronnie Harrison. Some draftniks had a first-round grade on him, but the Jaguars benefit from him falling all the way to the third, where they welcomed the big safety with open arms. His ability to come up and play in the box should aid Jacksonville's run defense for years to come.
In the second round, the Jaguars nabbed D.J. Chark, and while he's not among the best receivers in this class, it's a good sign when your worst pick is a 6'3" 199-pound receiver with speed to burn. He fills a need for the Jags, which is good after two luxury picks in Bryan and Harrison.
Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins get kudos here for not forcing a quarterback selection, and they reaped the benefits of a strong draft class thus far.
Instead of overpaying to trade up for a quarterback they don't need with Ryan Tannehill under contract, they took one of the best defenders in the draft in Minkah Fitzpatrick. The Alabama star is the kind of talent who could anchor that secondary sooner rather than later.
Things got even better in the second round when the team secured Penn State tight end Mike Gesicki. Whoever the long-term solution is at quarterback is going to love Gesicki.
As NFL Network's Cynthia Frelund pointed out, his ability in the red-zone was among the best in college football:
Jerome Baker rounded out the trio of Dolphins selections, and while he may never be an every-down linebacker for them, he provides depth at the position and could develop into a starter.
Getting a potential defensive star with the second pick, a red-zone threat in the second and a likely starter at linebacker is as good a draft class as any.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The only knock on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers class is that they passed on Derwin James—twice.
That must be a sign that their evaluation of him didn't necessarily line up with the media perception of the Florida State playmaker. Instead, they opted to address their secondary issues in the second round with the back-to-back selections of cornerbacks M.J. Stewart and Carlton Davis.
The double-dip is nice here because it's possible to develop two cornerbacks at once, and if both hit, they will have a position in which two of their best players are on rookie contracts at the same time.
The real coup was trading back in the first and still winding up with an immediate impact maker in Vita Vea.
Bucky Brooks of NFL.com broke down the pick:
Combined with versatile running back Ronald Jones in the second and offensive lineman Alex Cappa on Day 2, the Bucs have one of the most well-rounded and value-filled draft classes as of now.
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.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
