Jason DeCrow/Associated Press In every NFL draft, there are winners and losers. Every team is better on paper—at least, that's the hope—but some have done a better job than others. Is it really fair to determine who the winners and loser are immediately after the draft concludes? No, but it's a whole lot of fun. Here, you'll find all 32 teams broken down into tiers according to draft grade. Each tier will be analyzed as a group, with special attention to some of the best and worst decisions from each. First, though, let's take a look at the draft as a whole. 2019 NFL Draft Video Play Button Videos you might like A Grades Arizona Cardinals, Buffalo Bills, Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts, New England Patriots, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins A few teams absolutely aced the draft. The Arizona Cardinals got their new quarterback in Kyler Murray and grabbed him some weapons in the form of Hakeem Butler, Andy Isabella and KeeSean Johnson. The Buffalo Bills, meanwhile, won the value game by landing Ed Oliver at ninth overall and getting offensive lineman Cody Ford in the second round. The Green Bay Packers got difference-making defenders in Round 1—pass-rusher Rashan Gary and safety Darnell Savage. They added a starting-caliber center in Elgton Jenkins and potential future starter at tight end in Jace Sternberger. Thanks to the draft and the moves made in free agency, the Packers appear to be as complete a team as they've been in recent memory. The New England Patriots nailed the draft by grabbing Patriots-like players (Chase Winovich, Joejuan Williams) and by getting Tom Brady a true No. 1 receiver (N'Keal Harry). The Indianapolis Colts nailed it by maneuvering around early, grabbing extra capital, and still landing potential day-one starters in Rock Ya-Sin, Ben Banogu and Parris Campbell. The Washington Redskins landed their quarterback of the future in Dwayne Haskins and an elite pass-rushing prospect in Montez Sweat. B Grades Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, Los Angeles Rams, New York Jets, Oakland Raiders, Pittsburgh Steelers, Seattle Seahawks This is the tier of teams that didn't exactly kill it over the weekend but that had a better-than-average draft. These are the teams that both added talent and filled needs while doing so at valuable points in the draft. The Baltimore Ravens, for example, traded down in Round 1 and still landed their top receiver in the draft (Marquise Brown). The Cleveland Browns didn't have a first-round pick but still scooped up a potential Round 1 talent (Greedy Williams) in the middle of Round 2. Fans of teams in the "B" group should feel very good about how the draft unfolded. C Grades Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, San Francisco 49ers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tennessee Titans These are the teams that had just average drafts—on paper, of course. Some of these teams are here because they didn't have many early picks, like the Chicago Bears and New Orleans Saints. Some are here because they drafted for need but reached to do so, like the Minnesota Vikings and Atlanta Falcons. There's nothing wrong with a simply solid draft, which is what these teams appear to have gotten in the immediate aftermath of Round 7. D Grades Cincinnati Bengals, Houston Texans, New York Giants Only three teams really appear to have stumbled through the draft—the Cincinnati Bengals, Houston Texans and New York Giants. The Giants are here because they overreached for quarterback Daniel Jones at No. 6 in a big, big way. There may not have been another team even interested in taking the Duke product in the first round at all. Even if Jones had another suitor in Round 1, the Giants almost certainly could have traded down—guys like Josh Allen, Ed Oliver and Dwayne Haskins were still on the board—and still landed him. "For the record, it does feel like the Giants blew it," Nate Davis of USA Today wrote. The Houston Texans meanwhile, reached for two project offensive linemen (Tytus Howard, Max Scharping) when adding day-one starters should have been the goal. Deshaun Watson isn't the stoutest quarterback in the NFL, and he was sacked a whopping 62 times in 2018. Houston settled for Howard after the Philadelphia Eagles jumped in front of them and grabbed Andre Dillard in Round 1. NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah had Howard as his 50th overall draft prospect. Houston took him at 23. The Cincinnati Bengals simply stood in place at 11th overall and took the top offensive tackle on their draft board (Jonah Williams). That's fine. Their selection of blocking tight end Drew Sample with the 52nd pick was not. The Bengals spent the rest of their draft grabbing depth players and a developmental quarterback (Ryan Finley). This was an unimaginative and disappointing draft that only seems to further push the Bengals into the AFC North basement.<doc-sep>1 of 70 Ted S. Warren/Associated Press Byron Murphy, CB, Washington Strengths: Awareness, zone-coverage ability Weaknesses: Elite traits Murphy has the best hips and eyes among cornerbacks in this year’s class. He flips to turn and run with receivers and changes directions exceptionally well. And he is quick to diagnose route combinations and close on plays happening in front of him. Those traits make him a great prospect in both a Cover-3 heavy defense like the Huskies’ or the kind of match-concept defense smarter NFL teams are switching to (in an effort to cope with teams like the Chiefs). Murphy is just 5’11”, not exceptionally well-built, ran a 4.55-second 40 at the combine (his tape speed looks faster) and doesn’t always play up to his highlights. He’s prone to occasional mistakes in coverage, sometimes allows a little too much to happen in front of him and lets receivers latch on in the running game. These are quibbles and correctable flaws, rather than huge problems. Murphy isn’t suited for 50 snaps of press coverage against Julio Jones. Then again, who is? The Cardinals’ 2018 passing defensive stats looked OK, mostly because teams didn’t have to throw the ball much to beat them. But their cornerback corps entering the draft consisted of Patrick Peterson (excellent, aging, reportedly disgruntled), David Amerson (just another journeyman), Robert Alford (formerly of the Falcons, so ‘nuff said) and Brandon Williams (perma-project). So this selection fills a need. And hey, so what if Kyler Murray struggles as a rookie because the Cardinals aren’t really addressing his supporting cast. It’s not like the organization is impatient, right? Right? Grade: B+<doc-sep>1 of 4 John Raoux/Associated Press 103. Arizona Cardinals: Hakeem Butler, Wide Receiver, Iowa State They’re mighty! They’re fascinating! They’re flawed! Get ready, true believers: Here’s the skinny on a member of the 2019 Draft Class Legion of Wide Receiver Superheroes! Superpowers: Super size, super speed, super everything One Weakness: Hands cursed by the ancient trickster deity Dropskizotl Superhero Comparison: Groot Butler shares the beloved Guardian of the Galaxy’s ability to reach out with branch-like appendages and overpower opponents with his size and arboreal strength. Groot is also the ultimate team player. Wide Receiver Comparison: Vincent Jackson Secret Superhero File Butler dropped 12 passes last season and 21 in the last two, per Sports Info Solutions. The drops are a combination of obvious concentration lapses and plays in which Butler brings in the ball awkwardly. He needs some work on the JUGS Machine, and probably some coaching on the finer points of catching a football (hand placement when waiting for the ball to come, etc. ). Once the dropsies are brought under control, the Cardinals will have an uncanny weapon on contested catches and along the deep sidelines. Butler tracks the ball well and can snatch it from impossible-looking locations. He’s also a load after the catch with surprising agility to go with his size and speed. He also gets high marks for character/work habits. This is a great pick: outstanding value, a player who can be mentored by Larry Fitzgerald and someone who can combine with tiny second-round pick Andy Isabella to create a variety of mismatches in Kliff Kingsbury’s offense. Grade: A 104. Cincinnati Bengals: Ryan Finley, Quarterback, North Carolina State Deadly accurate quarterback comparison: Mike Glennon 2.0 Finley is the ultimate generic-brand quarterback prospect: tall and experienced at a major program with a pretty good arm. I once described Daniel Jones as a “chicken quesadilla” prospect: the quarterback equivalent of the bar snack you order when you are hungry but don’t know what you want. Finley is the shrink-wrapped turkey sandwich for which you pay $16 at the airport. He’s a good underneath passer who puts nice touch on deep passes between the numbers. But his deep sideline throws lack zip and accuracy, he locks on to his primary receiver, and mistakes snowball when he gets pressured. Finley maxes out as a peripatetic backup who will probably get a handful of starting opportunities because NFL decision-makers are the kinds of guys who eat an awful lot of airport turkey sandwiches. This is the Bengals’ version of the Giants’ Daniel Jones selection. Finley isn’t a replacement for Andy Dalton. He’s a justification to keep starting Andy Dalton. And the Bengals traded up to do it. Ugh. Grade: D+ 105. New Orleans Saints: Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, Safety, Florida Strengths: Speed, versatility Weaknesses: Physicality, tackling technique Gardner-Johnson called himself the “most versatile defensive back in the draft” at the combine, and there may be something to that. He played mostly slot corner for the Gators, moving to strong safety in some packages, and he has the man-coverage chops to handle tight ends and running backs who flex out. Gardner-Johnson was a prep track star who ran a 4.48-second 40-yard dash at the combine, and the speed and burst are evident on tape. He can be effective as a blitzer, and while he’ll overrun some plays and get washed out by the left tackle in others, he’s good enough in run support to be a factor. It’s a matchup-based league, and every defense needs a player like Gardner-Johnson who can handle a variety of assignments based on the offensive personnel. This is a safe, smart selection that feels a need. It’s also a fine value at the start of the fourth round. Grade: A 106. Oakland Raiders: Maxx Crosby, Edge-Rusher, Eastern Michigan Strengths: Length, quickness Weaknesses: Power/leverage Crosby recorded 18.5 sacks in the last two seasons, with enough production against opponents like San Diego State (2.5 sacks last year) and Kentucky (2.0 sacks in 2017) to prove he wasn’t just feasting on mid-major also-rans. Crosby has long arms and legs, some pass-rushing moves and a careening style that straddles the line between “aggressive” and “almost uncoordinated.” He flails around the field in pursuit and is easy to knock off balance because of a lack of leverage and upper-body strength. Crosby is a long-range project with traits that could turn him into a top sack producer if harnessed. He also joins Maxx Williams as the only double-X Maxxes in NFL history. Double-X Maxx was probably a popular baby name in the mid-1990s, because even babies were really exxtreme in the mid-1990s. The Raiders need edge-rushers in bundles after recording just 13 sacks last year, and Crosby and top pick Clelin Ferrell will upgrade their pass rush. But then, there was nowhere to go but up, and the Raiders appear to have picked both players a little too high. Grade: B- 107. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Anthony Nelson, Defensive End, Iowa Strengths: Size, quickness, hand technique Weaknesses: Leverage, high-end agility This is a great draft for both eye-popping edge-rushers and sturdy defensive ends who don’t blow you away with superheroic moves but do a lot of things well. Nelson falls into the latter category: He’s a big guy (6’7”, 271 lbs) with a rip move and other techniques to keep pass protectors off balance, plays the run well and has enough quickness to be more than a blocking sled on passing downs. Don’t expect double-digit sacks from Nelson, but he can stay on the field for three downs and be a factor against both the run and pass. He’ll play an immediate role on a team whose defensive end depth chart consists of Jason Pierre-Paul and a lot of failed projects. Grade: B 108. New York Giants: Julian Love, Cornerback, Notre Dame Strengths: Zone coverage awareness Weaknesses: High-level traits Love, a three-year starter for the Irish, projects as a useful nickel or dime cornerback: smart, alert, capable of handling most assignments and just big and fast enough to not be a liability.<doc-sep>Steve Luciano/Associated Press ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. released his grades following the weekend's NFL draft, giving the Indianapolis Colts the top mark with an "A" for their selections. Kiper called second-round cornerback Rock Ya-Sin "a little raw" but believes he'll "start immediately." Fellow second-rounder Parris Campbell will "play some slot and also scorch corners out wide," while the team's third-round pick, linebacker Bobby Okereke, "could compete with Anthony Walker for that starting spot." And second-round defensive end Ben Banogu "is a really good to fit in Matt Eberflus' 4-3 scheme." Kiper also praised the Colts for trading out of the first round while nabbing an additional second-rounder in 2020. Up next for Kiper came the Cleveland Browns, New England Patriots, Cincinnati Bengals and Washington, all receiving "A-" grades. For Cleveland, Kiper believes second-round cornerback Greedy Williams could be an immediate starter next to Denzel Ward, while third-round linebacker Sione Takitaki "will compete for Jamie Collins' vacant spot." Selections for safety Sheldrick Redwine and inside linebacker Mack Wilson, meanwhile, represented "good value." 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Shaquem Griffin Starting for Seahawks in Week 1 Right Arrow Icon Of course, the jewel of the 2019 draft for the Browns is a player they didn't draft at all, Odell Beckham Jr. The Browns gave up their first-round pick to get Beckham, which bumped up their overall grade. In New England, Kiper liked the selections of wide receiver N'Keal Harry, who he believes has "the best hands in this class" and will be "a weapon in the red zone," and outside linebacker Chase Winovich, calling him a "versatile edge player and a great fit for [Bill] Belichick's multischeme defense." Kiper described Cincy's picks as "not a sexy class" but "solid throughout," highlighted by "no-brainer immediate starter" Jonah Williams. He was a big fan of Washington getting quarterback Dwayne Haskins at No. 15, writing: "I love the fit here. Haskins has a chip in his shoulder now, and he's a gamer. He never wilted under pressure for the Buckeyes, and he was at his best in the biggest games. I'm excited to see what coach Jay Gruden and new offensive coordinator Kevin O'Connell can do with him." He also liked the selections of defensive end Montez Sweat, wide receiver Terry McLaurin and running back Bryce Love. As for his lowest grades, he gave a "C+" to the Carolina Panthers, Green Bay Packers, Los Angeles Chargers, Houston Texans, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Most notably, he called New York's selection of quarterback Daniel Jones at No. 6 "absolutely a pick that could get a GM fired, particularly one who just traded away one of the most talented pass catchers on the planet." He added: "Gettleman said on Thursday night that he fell in love with Jones' skill set at the Senior Bowl. I studied the tape from those practices, too—Jones was good, not great. He was inconsistent. Now he'll get the opportunity to sit behind Eli Manning for at least a season, and I'm sure they'll share their best David Cutcliffe stories. Let's see if Gettleman's gutsy call pays off." If it doesn't, Gettleman will find himself on the hot seat quickly.<doc-sep>
Steve Luciano/Associated Press The 2019 NFL draft is in the books. A few years from now, we'll look back and determine which teams actually had successful draft classes. For now, all we can do is judge how teams did in terms of adding potential talent at the right points in the draft in order to maximize value. Here, you'll find grades for each NFL team based on precisely these factors. Sure, they make look foolish once the incoming rookies have actually, you know, played in the NFL—but where's the fun in waiting for that? You'll also find a closer look at some of the best draft classes, along with the final draft order and results. 2019 NFL Draft Results Video Play Button Videos you might like Team-By-Team Draft Grades Arizona Cardinals: A Atlanta Falcons: C Baltimore Ravens: B+ Buffalo Bills: A+ Carolina Panthers: C+ Chicago Bears: C+ Cincinnati Bengals: D Cleveland Browns: B Dallas Cowboys: B Denver Broncos: B Detroit Lions: B- Green Bay Packers: A- Houston Texans: D Indianapolis Colts: A- Jacksonville Jaguars: B Kansas City Chiefs: B- Los Angeles Chargers: B+ Los Angeles Rams: B Miami Dolphins: C Minnesota Vikings: C New England Patriots: A+ New Orleans Saints: C New York Giants: D New York Jets: B+ Oakland Raiders: B+ Philadelphia Eagles: A- Pittsburgh Steelers: B+ San Francisco 49ers: C+ Seattle Seahawks: B Tampa Bay Buccaneers: C+ Tennessee Titans: C+ Washington Redskins: A+ Arizona Cardinals The Arizona Cardinals are clear winners of the 2019 draft. They managed to unload Josh Rosen for a second-round pick and replaced him with the most dynamic quarterback in the entire draft. They also landed explosive wide receivers Andy Isabella and Hakeem Butler, playmaking cornerback Byron Murphy and a potential starting safety in Alabama's Deionte Thompson. The Cardinals needed a big influx of talent, and they succeeded in getting one. The beauty of Arizona's draft is that it wasn't all about getting a quarterback or reaching for need. They upgraded multiple positions primarily by taking a best-player-available approach. The Cardinals likely got some tempting trade offers at the top of Round 2, but they stayed put and scooped up Murphy instead. That was a tremendous move because he should immediately pair with Patrick Peterson to give Arizona a legitimate starting cornerback duo. Cardinals fans were forced to suffer through a disappointing 2018 campaign, but the end result was a stellar draft that leaves the team much, much better on both sides of the ball. Buffalo Bills With their first four selections, the Buffalo Bills landed four players who should immediately start or contribute significantly as rookies. Buffalo's fantastic draft began when Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver fell to them at No. 9. Oliver was one of the best defensive prospects in the entire draft, he fills a need along the defensive line, and he was a steal at ninth overall. That's a win-win-win for Buffalo. The Bills then grabbed Oklahoma offensive lineman Cody Ford in the second round. He's a player many folks—like NFL Media's Daniel Jeremiah, for example—considered a potential top-15 pick. That's another need filled and another tremendous value. In Round 3, the Bills grabbed Florida Atlantic running back Devin Singletary, a potential successor to LeSean McCoy. In the same round, they grabbed Mississippi tight end Dawson Knox, who should contribute early as both a blocker and a receiver. Even if the rest of Buffalo's draft haul becomes little more than depth, this was a big, big win for the franchise. New England Patriots Why on earth did the rest of the league let the New England Patriots grab wideout N'Keal Harry at the bottom of Round 1? Tom Brady has been making converted quarterbacks and other teams' castoffs look like superstar receivers for years now, and for the first time in his career, the Patriots have drafted him a receiver in Round 1. "He reminds me a lot, and I don’t like to get into comparing guys, but if you look at his height, his size and probably his speed, similar to Dez Bryant when you look at him," Arizona State head coach Herm Edwards told WEEI's Mutt & Callahan. This Harry pick alone could dramatically impact the Patriots' 2019 season, but New England didn't stop there. The Patriots added cornerback Joejuan Williams and defensive end Chase Winovich, both defenders seemingly custom-suited to the New England system.