The 2025 NFL Draft is now over, and the complexion of many franchises has changed. In fact, some organizations may look back and view this as a franchise-altering three-day experience.

Though we can speculate wildly about who won and lost the 2025 NFL Draft, it’s much easier to just run down the list of all the picks made and give each team a grade.

With that in mind, here are my draft grades for the first 16 NFL teams.

Arizona Cardinals: B+

• Round 1 (16): DT Walter Nolen, Mississippi
• Round 2 (47): CB Will Johnson, Michigan
• Round 3 (78): Edge Jordan Burch, Oregon
• Round 4 (115): LB Cody Simon, Ohio State
• Round 5 (174): CB Denzel Burke, Ohio State
• Round 6 (211): OG Hayden Conner, Texas
• Round 7 (225): S Kitan Crawford, Nevada

Walter Nolen could be a game-wrecker in the NFL if he can put on some weight and learn a lot from head coach Jonathan Gannon. I love the defensive backs they added. I think Will Johnson has the most potential of any cornerback in this draft class, while Denzel Burke is a low-risk, high-reward selection in the fifth round. I just wish they had addressed the interior offensive line before the sixth round.

Atlanta Falcons: A

• Round 1 (15): Edge Jalon Walker, Georgia
• Round 1 (26): Edge James Pearce Jr., Tennessee
• Round 3 (96): S Xavier Watts, Notre Dame
• Round 4 (118): S Billy Bowman Jr., Oklahoma
• Round 7 (218): OT Jack Nelson, Wisconsin

I like the strategy they implemented by doubling up at each position of importance. I am sure that Jalon Walker will work out as a pass-rusher, but if he doesn’t, then the Falcons can lean back on James Pearce Jr., who could end up being the best pass-rusher in this draft class. Xavier Watts and Billy Bowman Jr. can both prove to be starters on this defense, which was 28th in quarterback rating allowed last season. Jack Nelson could end up being a good rotational offensive lineman, also.

Baltimore Ravens: A

• Round 1 (27): S Malaki Starks, Georgia
• Round 2 (59): Edge Mike Green, Marshall
• Round 3 (91): OT Emery Jones Jr., LSU
• Round 4 (129): LB Teddye Buchanan, California
• Round 5 (141): OT Carson Vinson, Alabama A&M
• Round 6 (178): CB Bilhal Kone, Western Michigan
• Round 6 (186): K Tyler Loop, Arizona
• Round 6 (203): WR LaJohntay Wester, Colorado
• Round 6 (210): DT Aeneas Peebles, Virginia Tech
• Round 6 (212): CB Robert Longerbeam, Rutgers
• Round 7 (243): OG Garrett Dellinger, LSU

Baltimore addressed its three biggest needs with its first three draft picks. On top of that, I really like the first three players they drafted. Malaki Starks will be a Week One starter for the Ravens. Baltimore needed another edge rusher, so they picked the guy who led the nation in sacks last season. They also now have Emery Jones Jr., who I think can be a starter as a guard or a tackle. They made FIVE sixth-round picks, which means at least one of those guys becomes a starter. They also doubled up on cornerbacks, so I expect one of those guys to work out as well.

Buffalo Bills: B

• Round 1 (30): CB Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky
• Round 2 (41): DT T.J. Sanders, South Carolina
• Round 3 (72): Edge Landon Jackson, Arkansas
• Round 4 (109): DT Deone Walker, Kentucky
• Round 5 (170): CB Jordan Hancock, Ohio State
• Round 5 (173): TE Jackson Hawes, Georgia Tech
• Round 6 (177): CB Dorian Strong, Virginia Tech
• Round 6 (206): OT Chase Lundt, Connecticut
• Round 7 (240): WR Kaden Prather, Maryland

In my opinion, their first three picks are all top-50 players in this draft class. I think Maxwell Hairston will be a great player. But if he isn’t, they still drafted two other cornerbacks who can step up and play opposite Christian Benford. T.J. Sanders will be a huge boost along the interior defensive line, while Landon Jackson will be able to fill in for Joey Bosa once he inevitably gets hurt. I do wish they had drafted a wideout before the seventh round. Josh Allen needs more help.

Carolina Panthers: C+

• Round 1 (8): WR Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona
• Round 2 (51): Edge Nic Scourton, Texas A&M
• Round 3 (77): Edge Princely Umanmielen, Mississippi
• Round 4 (114): RB Trevor Etienne, Georgia
• Round 4 (122): S Lathan Ransom, Ohio State
• Round 5 (140): DT Cam Jackson, Florida
• Round 5 (163): TE Mitchell Evans, Notre Dame
• Round 6 (208): WR Jimmy Horn Jr., Colorado

It’s good that they drafted a true number-one wide receiver for Bryce Young, but that doesn’t fix their 32nd-ranked run defense, which allowed 600 more rushing yards than the next-closest team. They drafted back-to-back edge rushers, who might not even be starters this season. They also used a fourth-round pick on a running back, which is crazy because they just signed Chuba Hubbard to a four-year extension. They finally addressed the run defense by drafting Cam Jackson, but he only averaged 22 tackles a year in college. If he doesn’t improve the run defense, the Panthers will struggle again.

Chicago Bears: B

• Round 1 (10): TE Colston Loveland, Michigan
• Round 2 (39): WR Luther Burden III, Missouri
• Round 2 (56): OT Ozzy Trapilo, Boston College
• Round 2 (62): DT Shemar Turner, Texas A&M
• Round 4 (132): LB Ruben Hyppolite II, Maryland
• Round 5 (169): CB Zah Frazier, UTSA
• Round 6 (195): OG Luke Newman, Michigan State
• Round 7 (233): RB Kyle Monangai, Rutgers

Chicago could’ve drafted the best tight end prospect in this draft, but they opted for the second-best for some reason. Luther Burden III is a good pick, but they just drafted a tight end in the first round with a starting tight end on the roster. I don’t know how Luther Burden III will see the field a lot, considering the Bears will be running a lot of sets with one running back, two tight ends, and two wideouts. Ozzy Trapilo is good, but he’s a right tackle, and Chicago needs a left tackle. I do think their best pick was fourth-rounder Shemar Turner, who rounds out a new and improved defensive front.

Cincinnati Bengals: C+

• Round 1 (17): Edge Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M
• Round 2 (49): LB Demetrius Knight Jr., South Carolina
• Round 3 (81): OG Dylan Fairchild, Georgia
• Round 4 (119): LB Barrett Carter, Clemson
• Round 5 (153): OT Jalen Rivers, Miami
• Round 6 (193): RB Tahj Brooks, Texas Tech

Shemar Stewart is a freakish athlete, but his production in college leaves a lot to be desired. Demetrius Knight can be a starter, but he’ll be 25 years old when the season starts, which is old for a rookie. I like that they doubled up on offensive linemen and think Dylan Fairchild can be a starter in a few years, maybe even this season. I do think they got a steal by picking Tahj Brooks, who has rushed for 100+ yards in 19 of his last 22 games. I am still very worried about their secondary, which went unadressed.

Cleveland Browns: A+

• Round 1 (5): DT Mason Graham, Michigan
• Round 2 (33): LB Carson Schwesinger, UCLA
• Round 2 (36): RB Quinshon Judkins, Ohio State
• Round 3 (67): TE Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green
• Round 3 (94): QB Dillon Gabriel, Oregon
• Round 4 (126): RB Dylan Sampson, Tennessee
• Round 5 (144): QB Shedeur Sanders, Colorado

The Browns got an A+ because they acquired a ton of draft capital in their trade with the Jaguars and landed several top-flight prospects. Mason Graham is a blue-chip defensive tackle and arguably the safest player in this draft, meaning it would be shocking if he doesn’t turn into a good NFL player. Though Carson Schwesinger isn’t the best athlete in the world, his production and tape show that he is an NFL-caliber linebacker. I also believe Quinshon Judkins will overtake Nick Chubb as Cleveland’s starting running back. Taking two quarterbacks creates a lot of intrigue, and I think Shedeur Sanders could end up being a steal as a fifth-round pick.

Dallas Cowboys: A-

• Round 1 (12): OG Tyler Booker, Alabama
• Round 2 (44): Edge Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College
• Round 3 (76): CB Shavon Revel Jr., East Carolina
• Round 5 (149): RB Jaydon Blue, Texas
• Round 5 (152): LB Shemar James, Florida
• Round 6 (204): OT Ajani Cornelius, Oregon
• Round 7 (217): DT Jay Toia, UCLA
• Round 7 (239): RB Phil Mafah, Clemson
• Round 7 (247): DT Tommy Akingbesote, Maryland

Their first three picks all have first-round value, and I expect each one to be a starter when Week One rolls around. I don’t know if Jaydon Blue will evolve into a starting running back, but he shows promise with 1,098 total yards on 176 touches (6.24 scrimmage yards per touch). Jay Toia weighs 342 lbs., so I imagine he can compete as a run-stuffing defensive lineman. If he doesn’t step up, then maybe Tommy Akingbesota will. Shemar James is the only question mark I have, but that’s not bad considering he was a fifth-round pick.

Denver Broncos: C-

• Round 1 (20): CB Jahdae Barron, Texas
• Round 2 (60): RB RJ Harvey, UCF
• Round 3 (74): WR Pat Bryant, Illinois
• Round 3 (101): Edge Sai’vion Jones, LSU
• Round 4 (134): Edge Que Robinson, Alabama
• Round 6 (216): P Jeremy Crawshaw, Florida
• Round 7 (241): TE Caleb Lohner, Utah

I think Jahdae Barron can be one of the best defensive backs in this draft class, but the Broncos had other needs outside of cornerback, so that pick left me scratching my head a little. RJ Harvey could become Denver’s starter, but his size makes him a pass-protection liability, so I don’t expect him to be on the field for many third downs. Pat Bryant doesn’t appear fast enough to get past NFL-level defenders, which is concerning since he struggled against better defenses. Drafting edge rushers in back-to-back rounds also perplexes me because the Broncos didn’t need to make any improvements to their pass rush. The players aren’t bad, but it felt like they took the wrong guys to address their biggest needs.

Detroit Lions: B-

• Round 1 (28): DT Tyleik Williams, Ohio State
• Round 2 (57): OG Tate Ratledge, Georgia
• Round 3 (70): WR Isaac TeSlaa, Arkansas
• Round 5 (171): OG Miles Frazier, LSU
• Round 6 (196): Edge Ahmed Hassanein, Boise State
• Round 7 (230): S Dan Jackson, Georgia
• Round 7 (244): WR Dominic Lovett, Georgia

I thought that the Lions would’ve added another defensive end first rather than a defensive tackle. They already had Alim McNeil and DJ Reader, so I am guessing Tyleik Williams will be a rotational lineman. I like the fact that they took Tate Ratledge and Miles Frazier. One of those guys (most likely Ratledge) will be able to replace Kevin Zeitler. I also don’t think they needed additional wide receiver help, so using a third-round pick on a wideout who only recorded 897 receiving yards at the Division I level is another head-scratcher. The only edge rusher they picked has a seventh-round grade and lacks “NFL-ready instincts,” according to NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein.

Green Bay Packers: A-

• Round 1 (23): WR Matthew Golden, Texas
• Round 2 (54): OT Anthony Belton, N.C. State
• Round 3 (87): WR Savion Williams, TCU
• Round 4 (124): Edge Barryn Sorrell, Texas
• Round 5 (159): Edge Collin Oliver, Oklahoma State
• Round 6 (198): DT Warren Brinson, Georgia
• Round 7 (237): CB Micah Robinson, Tulane
• Round 7 (250): OG John Williams, Cincinnati

Not only did Green Bay, Wisconsin put on an amazing draft, but the city’s hometown team had a great draft class. Matthew Golden is a speedster who will likely be able to make up for the loss of Christian Watson, while Savion Williams is a gadget player who will make plays from all over the field in Matt LaFleur’s offense. Anthony Belton will probably end up being a guard, but that gives the Packers’ offensive line additional depth, which was the team’s downfall in their playoff loss to the Eagles. Drafting three consecutive defensive linemen increases the chances of Green Bay finding another starter. If they hadn’t waited until the seventh round to draft a cornerback, this could’ve been an A+.

Houston Texans: A

• Round 2 (34): WR Jayden Higgins, Iowa State
• Round 2 (48): OT Aireontae Ersery, Minnesota
• Round 3 (79): WR Jaylin Noel, Iowa State
• Round 3 (97): CB Jaylin Smith, USC
• Round 4 (116): RB Woody Marks, USC
• Round 6 (187): S Jaylen Reed, Penn State
• Round 6 (197): QB Graham Mertz, Florida
• Round 7 (224): DT Kyonte Hamilton, Rutgers
• Round 7 (255): TE Luke Lachey, Iowa

I think many of the guys the Texans drafted will be immediate-impact players. Jayden Higgins has elite size and speed as well as the potential to be the best wideout in this draft class. Aireontae Ersery could take over as the franchise’s left tackle by the time the regular season begins. Jaylin Noel could also emerge as a valuable slot wide receiver for this team. I believe Jaylen Reed can become an important rotational defensive back, while Jaylin Smith could be a nickel corner. Woody Marks may not be a starter, but he’ll take some pressure off of Joe Mixon, who was asked to do a lot last season.

Indianapolis Colts: A-

• Round 1 (14): TE Tyler Warren, Penn State
• Round 2 (45): Edge J.T. Tuimoloau, Ohio State
• Round 3 (80): CB Justin Walley, Minnesota
• Round 4 (127): OT Jalen Travis, Iowa State
• Round 5 (151): RB DJ Giddens, Kansas State
• Round 6 (189): QB Riley Leonard, Notre Dame
• Round 6 (190): DT Tim Smith, Alabama
• Round 7 (232): LB Hunter Wohler, Wisconsin

Tyler Warren is exactly who Anthony Richardson needs to develop further. He’s a big-bodied tight end who will get open and give Richardson many easy completions. JTT is a safe bet to become a solid contributor on any NFL team, which is necessary after the Colts finished tied for 26th in sacks forced. At 6’8″ and 339 lbs., Jalen Travis is a monster offensive lineman who has the size to be a decent tackle but an even better guard. If Justin Walley can put on some muscle, he can be a serviceable nickel cornerback. DJ Giddens will be a good backup to Jonathan Taylor. I also think drafting Riley Leonard is a low-risk, high-reward pick. The Colts need one other quarterback to compete with Richardson and Daniel Jones.

Jacksonville Jaguars: B+

• Round 1 (2): WR/CB Travis Hunter, Colorado
• Round 3 (88): CB Caleb Ransaw, Tulane
• Round 3 (89): OG Wyatt Milum, West Virginia
• Round 4 (104): RB Bhayshul Tuten, Virginia Tech
• Round 4 (107): LB Jack Kiser, Notre Dame
• Round 6 (194): LB Jalen McLeod, Auburn
• Round 6 (200): S Rayuan Lane III, Navy
• Round 7 (221): C Jonah Monheim, USC
• Round 7 (236): RB LeQuint Allen, Syracuse

Travis Hunter could be a generational talent as a successful wideout and cornerback. At the very least, he will bring more fans to the stadium. I also liked adding Caleb Ransaw and Rayuan Lane III to shore up the worst secondary in the NFL last season. If Tuten were two or three inches taller, he could’ve been a top-50 pick. I anticipate he will compete with Travis Etienne for starting touches. Wyatt Milum provides offensive line depth, which is essential to keeping Trevor Lawrence healthy. Either Jack Kiser or Jalen McLeod will emerge as a potential starter, which will be important if they’re planning to move on from Devin Lloyd after this season.

Kansas City Chiefs: B

• Round 1 (32): OT Josh Simmons, Ohio State
• Round 2 (63): DT Omarr Norman-Lott, Tennessee
• Round 3 (66): Edge Ashton Gillotte, Louisville
• Round 3 (85): CB Nohl Williams, California
• Round 4 (133): WR Jalen Royals, Utah State
• Round 5 (156): LB Jeffrey Bassa, Oregon
• Round 7 (228): RB Brashard Smith, SMU

Josh Simmons could end up being the best offensive tackle in this draft class, which addresses KC’s biggest problem heading into this season. Omarr Norman-Lott and Ashton Gillotte will emerge as rotational defensive linemen, giving guys like Chris Jones a much-needed break. I had Jalen Royals graded as a second-round pick, so I love that they were able to add him in the fourth round. Nohl Williams’ ball-hawking abilities will be valuable to a team that was middle-of-the-road when it came to forcing interceptions last season.