Since we’re all stuck at home, I decided last Thursday that there was no better time to have a little fun with the draft. I produced a video for Odds Shark of me doing a cannonball into my pool while giving out my best draft prop plays.
We got a lot of funny responses on Twitter and all of us at Odds Shark hope you had a fun-filled draft whether you watched on Zoom with friends or by yourself — it was nice to have some sort of sports in our life. Everyone just hang on a little longer and we will get there (sports will be back).
Without further ado, I present to you with style and grace (unlike my cannonball) my ratings from 1 to 10 of NFL squads who topped the league with their draft or flopped.
Tops
Arizona Cardinals
Draft Rating: 9.5
The Cards got a steal with the eighth pick, grabbing linebacker Isaiah Simmons from Clemson. Simmons was rumored to be going fourth to the Giants but slipped down and gives the Cardinals exactly what they needed. Simmons is a guy who is all over the field and will stop the bleeding when it comes to Arizona trying to shut down tight end production (Arizona led the league by yielding 16 touchdowns to tight ends).
The Cards also helped quarterback Kyler Murray by selecting offensive tackle Josh Jones from Houston in the third round. In numerous mock drafts, Jones was going in the first round (and that includes my mock — I had him going at No. 29 to Tennessee).
With the defensive pickups the Cards got in free agency (for example, Jordan Phillips, 9.5 sacks last season), this team is ready to fly.
Baltimore Ravens & Dallas Cowboys
Draft Rating: 9
Both teams got players who fell into their laps later than expected and it could come back to haunt the rest of the league. Oklahoma wide receiver CeeDee Lamb was the favorite to be the first receiver taken at around pick No. 11, but he slipped to Dallas at 17. Lamb had 3,200 yards and 32 TDs the last three seasons in college and now joins a Cowboys offensive unit that has plenty of run-and-gun.
Meanwhile, the Ravens grabbed running back J.K. Dobbins out of Ohio State with the 55th pick. Dobbins was predicted to go earlier, but he finds himself in an excellent situation in Baltimore.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Draft Rating: 8.75
Tampa Bay was able to trade up a spot to get Tristan Wirfs, the Iowa offensive lineman they truly wanted. He will help protect Tom Brady as he throws to his Pro Bowl receivers and fifth-rounder Tyler Johnson. Johnson was a huge part of the Minnesota Golden Gophers offense, racking up 1,100 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Tampa Bay on defense grabbed Johnson’s teammate at Minnesota, safety Antoine Winfield Jr. Winfield comes from great pedigree since his dad played 14 seasons in the NFL. Winfield led the nation in interceptions a season ago with seven.
Cleveland Browns
Draft Rating: 7.75
There are no more excuses left for QB Baker Mayfield after the Browns took offensive lineman Jedrick Wills from Alabama with the 10th pick. The Browns also snagged safety Grant Delpit in the middle of the second round. The LSU product was regarded as possibly the best defensive player in the country before the season started last year.
Miami Dolphins & Minnesota Vikings
Draft Rating: 7.5
Both teams got potential Hall of Fame players with their first picks on Thursday. The Dolphins selected Tua Tagovailoa to be their quarterback of the future and the Vikings took Justin Jefferson, the electric wide receiver from LSU. Both players should have hugely productive careers.
Flops
Oakland Raiders
Draft Rating: 4.5
The Raiders really might have messed up twice in the first round. They grabbed Henry Ruggs, who did run a 4.27 40-yard dash at the combine, at No. 12 but possibly drafted the wrong Alabama receiver. Ruggs only had 38 receptions last year when Jerry Jeudy had 78. At pick No. 19, they took cornerback Damon Arnette from Ohio State. I feel like everyone knew no one was taking him in the first round, so why in the world didn’t the Raiders trade down and better themselves and still get the guy they wanted?
Chicago Bears
Draft Rating: 3
Some things never change and unfortunately for Bears fans this was another terrible draft by Bears management. Chicago didn’t have a pick until the second round and took a tight end from Notre Dame after signing Jimmy Graham for big bucks in free agency. Then they took a no-name cornerback later in the round when Kristian Fulton of LSU and Trevon Diggs of Alabama were still on the board.
Philadelphia Eagles
Draft Rating: 1
The Eagles desperately needed a wide receiver, which is what they got with the 21st selection. The only problem is who it was. The Eagles shocked everyone by taking TCU’s Jalen Reagor, who no one had going in the first round. What makes this even worse is that 6-3 LSU standout Justin Jefferson was still available. Reagor has only one 100-yard game in his last 15 college games.
If that didn’t make you scratch your head, they took Oklahoma QB Jalen Hurts in the second round for a reason none of us could figure out. Carson Wentz is your guy and he needs help on the offensive line and even another receiver would have been fine, but they blew that pick on a guy who won’t play and can’t make NFL-type throws downfield with any consistency.
