NFL Draft grades 2018: Rounding up expert opinions for every team

It’s way too early for anyone to know how each of the 256 players selected in the 2018 draft will impact their respective teams this fall. But that’s not going to stop every major sports media outlet, including SB Nation, from handing out grades to each team for their efforts.

We’v’e rounded up the grades doled out by Dan Kadar at Mocking the Draft, Mel Kiper at ESPN, NFL.com’s Chad Reuter, and Sam Monson and Steve Palazzolo at Pro Football Focus. See how your favorite team fared below.

Arizona Cardinals

SB Nation: A-
ESPN: C+
NFL: A
PFF: Above Average

Kiper dinged the Cardinals for moving up to take Josh Rosen at No. 10 despite the fact that No. 10 is precisely where he had Rosen ranked on his big board. Christian Kirk was a good value at No. 47, and he can be the heir apparent to Larry Fitzgerald.

Atlanta Falcons

SB Nation: B
ESPN: B
NFL: B+
PFF: Good

Analysts love Calvin Ridley’s clean routes, and nobody expected him to be on the board when the Falcons picked at No. 26. They saw the Falcons’ choice of running back Ito Smith as one of the better value picks as Tevin Coleman enters the final year of his rookie contract.

Baltimore Ravens

SB Nation: A
ESPN: B+
NFL: A-
PFF: Above Average

The Ravens pulled off a couple of surprises in the first round, moving back and taking tight end Hayden Hurst, and then trading back into the first round to take Lamar Jackson. It was Ozzie Newsome’s last draft as the general manager of the Ravens, and he made it count.

Buffalo Bills

SB Nation: B-
ESPN: A
NFL: B+
PFF: Average

The Bills snagged Josh Allen, giving up Cordy Glenn and two second-round picks to do so. Now we just have to wait and see if the decision pays off.

Carolina Panthers

SB Nation: B
ESPN: A-
NFL: A
PFF: Average

Steve Smith thinks the Panthers may have gotten the next Steve Smith in Maryland WR D.J. Moore. They also shored up the secondary, their biggest need, in the second round with Donte Jackson, and got good value with tight end Ian Thomas in the fourth round.

Chicago Bears

SB Nation: B+
ESPN: B+
NFL: A
PFF: Good

The Bears got one of the best linebackers in the draft with Georgia’s Roquan Smith. They also added wideout Anthony Miller to complement Allen Robinson and Taylor Gabriel, rounding out a nice set of receiving weapons for Mitchell Trubisky.

Cincinnati Bengals

SB Nation: B+
ESPN: B
NFL: B+
PFF: Average

The Bengals shored up the offensive line, a huge need, with the addition of Billy Price and the trade with the Bills that brought in Cordy Glenn. They boosted the defense on Day 2 with the additions of Sam Hubbard, Jessie Bates III, and Malik Jefferson.

Cleveland Browns

SB Nation: B-
ESPN: B-
NFL: B+
PFF: Good

Will Baker Mayfield finally be the franchise quarterback the Browns have spent the better part of two decades trying to find? Time will tell.

Dallas Cowboys

SB Nation: B+
ESPN: B-
NFL: A-
PFF: Elite

The Cowboys got players at positions of need for good value. They earned the first Joe Flacco-caliber grade of the draft from Pro Football Focus.

Denver Broncos

SB Nation: B+
ESPN: B+
NFL: A
PFF: Good

Von Miller and Bradley Chubb on the same defensive line is a scary proposition. The Broncos also got two starting-caliber wide receivers in Courtland Sutton and Daeshaun Hamilton.

Detroit Lions

SB Nation: B
ESPN: B-
NFL: B
PFF: Below Average

The Lions got Matthew Stafford a stout center in Frank Ragnow. But they gave up a fourth-round pick to move up to take Kerryon Johnson, and they may have reached for defensive back Tracy Walker.

Green Bay Packers

SB Nation: B-
ESPN: A-
NFL: A
PFF: Elite

Green Bay’s secondary needed an infusion of talent. New GM Brian Gutekunst made it happen with the additions of Jaire Alexander and Josh Jackson.

Houston Texans

SB Nation: C+
ESPN: B
NFL: A
PFF: Below Average

Analysts were all over the place with the Texans’ haul. That’s probably because they didn’t have a single pick to spend until the third round.

Indianapolis Colts

SB Nation: B
ESPN: B+
NFL: A-
PFF: Average

Mocking the Draft thinks the Colts’ selection of Notre Dame guard Quenton Nelson may be the best pick of the entire draft. Andrew Luck surely has to be happy about it.

Jacksonville Jaguars

SB Nation: B
ESPN: B
NFL: A-
PFF: Average

The Jaguars got a receiver who can stretch the field in D.J. Chark, and that defense got even scarier with the addition of defensive tackle Taven Bryan.

Kansas City Chiefs

SB Nation: D+
ESPN: C+
NFL: B
PFF: Below Average

The Chiefs needed to replace Marcus Peters, and they didn’t do it until Day 3 when they snagged Tremon Smith.

Los Angeles Chargers

SB Nation: B+
ESPN: B+
NFL: B
PFF: Above Average

Florida State safety Derwin James unexpectedly slipped all the way to No. 17, and he should be an instant impact player for the Chargers.

Los Angeles Rams

SB Nation: C
ESPN: B-
NFL: A-
PFF: Average

The Rams’ draft didn’t even begin until pick No. 89, and they mostly added players who will round out the depth chart instead of immediate upgrades.

Miami Dolphins

SB Nation: A-
ESPN: C+
NFL: B+
PFF: Good

The Dolphins didn’t grab a quarterback, as many expected them to do, at No. 11. But thanks in part to the run on quarterbacks early in the draft, they were able to grab DB Minkah Fitzpatrick, who should be a star.

Minnesota Vikings

SB Nation: B+
ESPN: B
NFL: A-
PFF: Below Average

The Vikings were able to shore up the secondary with one of the most talented cornerbacks in this draft, Mike Hughes. But did they do enough to address the offensive line?

New England Patriots

SB Nation: B-
ESPN: B+
NFL: A
PFF: Above Average

The Patriots’ most urgent need was tackle after losing Nate Solder to the Giants in free agency. Isaiah Wynn is versatile enough to play tackle or guard and just may be that guy.

New Orleans Saints

SB Nation: C+
ESPN: C+
NFL: B
PFF: Average

Marcus Davenport has a high ceiling. But he’s raw, and the Saints gave up a whole lot to move up and draft him at No. 14.

New York Giants

SB Nation: A-
ESPN: B
NFL: A-
PFF: Above Average

Your reaction to the Giants’ draft likely revolves around how strongly you feel one way or the other about the selection of Saquon Barkley at No. 2. Barkley gives the Giants a desperately-needed ground game.

New York Jets

SB Nation: B
ESPN: B
NFL: B+
PFF: Elite

Sam Darnold was considered by many to be the top quarterback prospect in this draft. The Browns didn’t think so, and the Giants went with Barkley, making Darnold a steal for New York at No. 3.

Oakland Raiders

SB Nation: D+
ESPN: B
NFL: C
PFF: Average

Jon Gruden’s first draft in his latest stint with the Raiders drew mixed reviews. Oakland is banking on the potential of Kolton Miller and Brandon Parker to protect Derek Carr in the long term.

Philadelphia Eagles

SB Nation: B+
ESPN: A-
NFL: A
PFF: Good

First the Eagles won the Super Bowl, then they won the draft, despite not having any first-round picks to work with.

Pittsburgh Steelers

SB Nation: C-
ESPN: C+
NFL: B+
PFF: Average

Pittsburgh may have reached for Terrell Edmunds in the first round. The Steelers did, however, find a suitable replacement for Martavis Bryant in James Washington, and planned for life after Ben Roethlisberger with Mason Rudolph.

San Francisco 49ers

SB Nation: B-
ESPN: B-
NFL: B
PFF: Above Average

Mike McGlinchey has a high ceiling, but the Niners could have addressed some defensive needs for better value in the first. Still, it was a good draft class for the Niners overall.

Seattle Seahawks

SB Nation: C
ESPN: C+
NFL: C
PFF: Average

The experts agree that Seattle’s hall was pretty average. But drafting Shaquem Griffin, who joins his twin brother Shaquill in Seattle, was the feel-good story of the draft. They should get a few bonus points for that.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

SB Nation: B-
ESPN: B
NFL: A-
PFF: Good

Vita Vea was the best defensive tackle option in this draft. But the Bucs had bigger needs in the secondary, and they passed up Derwin James to grab Vea.

Tennessee Titans

SB Nation: B
ESPN: B-
NFL: A
PFF: Good

Mocking the Draft dinged the Titans a bit for what they gave up to get linebacker Harold Landry. But the Titans made savvy moves to shore up the defense in general.

Washington

SB Nation: A
ESPN: B+
NFL: B+
PFF: Good

Washington snagged one of the top DTs in the draft in Alabama’s Da’Ron Payne. They took advantage of Derrius Guice’s plummet, adding one of the best running backs in the draft for great value in the second round.