NFL DRAFT GRADES: TIER A

Now that we have all had a chance to truly digest the NFL Draft from a couple weeks ago and read up on who each of our favorite teams selected, I figured I would chime in with my opinion. This is the first part (grades A- or higher) of my full comprehensive list of draft grades based entirely on pre-draft projections for players and team needs that were either successfully filled or not. I will also look at draft strategy for those who seemed to have one, or lack there of. It took time to go team by team and research every player drafted, but I felt that if I was going to do these articles, I should do them right. Here goes...

P.S. If you missed my NFL Free Agency Winners and Losers of March, check them out by clicking these links or perusing 'theHuddle' section of 'theNightCap'.

Minnesota Vikings:

NightCap Free Agency Grade So Far- F

NightCap Draft Grade- A

We already know Jefferson looks good in purple, and quite frankly he even looks the part of Diggs sprinting towards the end zone. Photo: Marianna Massey, Getty Images

So Rick Spielman and Mike Zimmer did have a plan all along, and that plan was to absolutely nail the draft after trading Stefon Diggs for an endless haul of picks. Seriously, this roster had more holes than the work camp they sent to Shia LaBeouf in 2003. First they needed a replacement for Diggs that could play on the outside, say hello to LSU's Justin Jefferson. Then they needed an entire new core of cornerbacks, Jeff Gladney and Cameron Dantzler hope to solve that problem. Gladney had boom or bust first round projections heading into the draft, but Dantzler looks like a sleeper in the third by all accounts. For extra insurance, the Vikes also added Harrison Hand, Josh Metellus and Brian Cole II to the secondary in the later rounds. They even managed to snag a top ten tackle in this draft class in Ezra Cleveland (another need position), and bring aboard sleeper edge rusher candidates to replace Everson Griffen with James Lynch and D.J. Wonnum. Fourth round linebacker Troy Dye could become a starter in the Minnesota defense as well. The Vikes may have saved their season for now, but a lot of risk comes with an NFL roster that will start this many rookies at key roles.

Baltimore Ravens:

NightCap Free Agency Grade So Far- C (was D+ until recent moves)

NightCap Draft Grade- A

No surprise here, the Baltimore Ravens have been outstanding drafters for the better part of the last 20 years. They had to fill the void left by C.J. Mosley's exit last offseason, and they did so by selecting Patrick Queen in the first round and Malik Harrison in the third. Then they drafted J.K. Dobbins, who immediately sounds terrifying paired with Mark Ingram and Lamar Jackson. Justin Madubuike will help replace DT Michael Pierce along with Derek Wolfe and Calais Campbell (offseason transactions), while Tyre Phillips and Ben Bredeson were both drafted later to compete for Marshall Yanda's old job at right guard. Finally, Devin Duvernay and James Proche will be intriguing options that join the fold at wide receiver. Any roster gaps the Ravens might have had heading into 2020 were filled, the only question is if they were done so adequately or not.

Dallas Cowboys:

NightCap Free Agency Grade So Far- D+

NightCap Draft Grade- A

CeeDee Lamb might end up being the steal of the first round. Photo: Ron Chenoy, CBS Sports

The Cowboys lucked their way into a steal of a draft. CeeDee Lamb somehow fell to them in the first, a major upgrade on Randall Cobb who left in FA, and then Trevon Diggs fell to them in the second to replace Byron Jones. Defensive tackle Neville Gallimore should help add some beef for head coach Mike McCarthy in the third, but the picks I really liked came later. Tyler Biadasz (fifth round) will be Travis Frederick's heir at center. He was top five center in this draft class by most accounts, some even ranked him as high as number two. Bradlee Anae was also taken in the fifth, he should compete with Aldon Smith and others for a starting job on the edge. This was a near perfect draft for Dallas, who will be back in win-now mode in 2020.

New York Giants:

NightCap Free Agency Grade So Far- C+

NightCap Draft Grade- A-

Xavier McKinney is a first round talent and a dream fit for the Giants in the second. Photo: Steve Mitchell, USA Today

I've heard different opinions on the Giants draft, but I loved it (and trust me I have criticized Gettleman countless times in recent years). I didn't think Andrew Thomas had the highest ceiling out of the offensive tackles in this class, but I did believe he was the least likely to be a bust out of the four big names. I actually ranked him second behind Tristan Wirfs who ended up falling hard. He was the most technically sound tackle in college, and he should be the Giants starting left tackle for the next 10 years. Speaking of hog mollies, the G-Men also added depth with Matt Peart and Shane Lemieux. The Peart pick was a bit of an overdraft, but I thought Lemieux was a steal that could start at guard on most NFL teams (just not NYG). Rumor is the Giants may try and convert him to center. Gettleman's best pick of the draft was in the second round however. Getting playmaker safety Xavier McKinney that low was just phenomenal for Big Blue, who needed a star like him on this defense in the worst way. Later, they bulked up on defensive depth, adding youthful talent that this D hasn't had most of the last five years. I particularly liked the look of linebacker Cameron Brown and corner Chris Williamson in the sixth and seventh. Darnay Holmes was the corner taken in the fourth. This Giants team is still rebuilding, but we are starting to finally see some progress.

Denver Broncos:

NightCap Free Agency Grade So Far- B-

NightCap Draft Grade- A-

Another draft I really liked was that of John Elway's and Denver. I wrote an article for work about how the Broncos HAD to draft wide receivers early and often, and they listened, taking Jerry Jeudy and K.J. Hamler with their first two picks. Jeudy will join Courtland Sutton on the outside and Hamler will take over the slot, the Broncos receiving core of the future is complete. Lloyd Cushenberry then replaces Connor McGovern on the interior of the O-line, with McTelvin Agim joining the defensive front. I have also heard great things about tight end Albert Okwuegbunam (fourth round pick), who would add another weapon for Drew Lock next to Noah Fant. Justin Strnad joins the Broncos linebackers too. The only pick I really disliked was cornerback Michael Ojemudia in the third. He was the 20th ranked CB on Pro Football Focus and 25th on the NFL big board. This was a reach by Denver with plenty of other corners available. Otherwise, wonderful draft.

Buffalo Bills:

NightCap Free Agency Grade So Far- A

NightCap Draft Grade- A-

Most of Buffalo's draft picks (including their first rounder) went to acquiring Stefon Diggs, and I think that was a move worth making with the AFC East finally up for grabs. They then performed admirably with what picks they had left. A.J. Epenesa's stock as an edge rusher started at a first round value, but dropped as the draft approached. Either way he was a steal for the Bills at 54th overall. Next they added a tough runner in Zack Moss, who will make a nice young RB duo with Devin Singletary. Later they drafted possible sleeper wide receivers in Gabriel Davis and Isaiah Hodgins, and brought in an intelligent quarterback to help Josh Allen learn the game in Jake Fromm at a premium value. They also kept Fromm out of the hands of a rival like New England in doing so. I really liked the defensive back selection of Dane Jackson in the seventh too, this secondary is already stacked, but Jackson seems like a nice depth/role piece who could make the roster. The one pick I didn't agree with was Tyler Bass in the sixth. I understand Stephen Hauschka is getting older, but the veteran kicker has been consistent for Buffalo. They didn't need to reach on a future kicker when they are trying to win a Super Bowl.

Cincinnati Bengals:

NightCap Free Agency Grade So Far- B

NightCap Draft Grade- A-

The Bengals had to take Burrow first overall, but will he end up finally being the answer in Cincy? Photo: Gerald Herbert, Associated Press

I'm still not sure about Joe Burrow as an NFL QB. Honestly, I didn't love any of the top quarterbacks in this draft, and aside from one or two sleepers, I thought this was a weak QB draft class compared to a year like 2018. Even so, Burrow was the guy the Bengals had to take, for better or for worse. He is an Ohio kid who lit the NCAA on fire in 2019. Now Cincy is his for the next four years. We knew Burrow was the number one pick months ago though, from there on out I thought the Bengals killed it. Wide receiver Tee Higgins in the second, middle linebacker Logan Wilson in the third, linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither in the fourth, and edge rusher Khalid Kareem in the fifth. With the exception of Kareem, I thought all these picks had sleeper potential. My only problem with the Bengals draft was that they barely addressed one of their biggest needs, offensive line. Other than selecting Hakeem Adeniji in the sixth, Cincinnati avoided O-line altogether. 2019 first round tackle Jonah Williams should return in 2020, but this OL still needs to add more talent to keep Burrow safe.

Second Tier of 'B' Range Grades to Come Next! Stay Tuned.