NFC draft grades: Falcons, Lions help rebuilding efforts with top classes – The Denver Post

Team-by-team NFL draft grades for the NFC clubs:

Arizona — C

CSU TE Trey McBride (No. 55) joins Zach Ertz as a formidable duo. That was followed by DEs Cameron Thomas and Myjai Sanders in rounds 2-3. Trading a first-round pick for Ravens WR Hollywood Brown is a mystery.

Atlanta — A

The Falcons had no money in free agency, which made the draft critical and their first three picks were WR Drake London, pass rusher Arnold Ebiketie and ILB Troy Andersen, all of whom should start. QB Desmond Ridder will get a chance to be the future.

Carolina — B

Keeping it simple, the Panthers added OT Ikem Ekwonu at No. 6 and had QB Matt Corral fall to them at No. 94. If you know what their big-picture plan is, let us know.

Chicago — C

New Bears GM Ryan Poles made 10 picks (five offense, four defense, one punter) to help his floor-to-roof rebuild. But they had only three of the top 165 selections, including CB Kyler Gordon, who was surprisingly available at No. 39.

Dallas — D

WR Jalen Tolbert (round 3) will get a chance to contribute right away. First-round G Tyler Smith could eventually play left tackle, but the Cowboys should have taken an edge rusher to replace Randy Gregory.

Detroit — A

The top-rated player (DE Aidan Hutchinson) at No. 2 was followed by GM Brad Holmes fleecing Minnesota to move up 21 spots to No. 12 for WR Jameson Williams without giving up a future first-round pick.

Green Bay — D

LB Quay Walker and DT Devonte Wyatt (Nos. 22 and 28) could be great players, but the Packers stood pat and didn’t add a top receiver until Christian Watson at No. 34.

L.A. Rams — C

The Rams didn’t pick until No. 104 and had five in rounds 6-7. Their big move was re-acquiring nickel CB Troy Hill from Cleveland. The focus was on the secondary (CBs Decobie Durant and Derion Kedrick and S Quentin Lake and Russ Yeast) on Day 3.

RELATED: 2022 NFL draft tracker: A complete listing of picks from this year’s draft

Minnesota — F

Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s first draft was a debacle. He traded down with division rivals Detroit and Green Bay (amazing). Lewis Cine (round 1) is a box safety only and CB Andrew Booth (round 2) recently had sports hernia surgery.

New Orleans — B

The Saints had only five picks, but three were in the top 49 and netted WR Chris Olave, LT Trevor Penning and CB/S Alontae Taylor. Not a lot of work, but good work by GM Mickey Loomis.

N.Y. Giants — B

The Giants’ new regime went about cleaning up former GM Dave Gettleman’s mess by adding DE/OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux and OT Evan Neal at Nos. 5 and 7, respectively. The Giants still have a big hole at one outside cornerback spot.

Philadelphia — B

The Eagles started the draft with 10 picks, including five in rounds 1-3. They ended with only five picks (three in first three rounds). The big prize was trading for Titans WR A.J. Brown, but they found three future starters in DT Jordan Davis, C Cam Jurgens and ILB Nakobe Dean.

Seattle — B

The post-Russell Wilson Era started by drafting OT Charles Cross and RB Kenneth Walker III with two picks from the Broncos. They also rebuilt their cornerback corps with Coby Bryant and Tariq Woolen in the fourth round.

San Francisco — D

Its only two top-100 picks were OLB Drake Jackson and RB Tyrion Davis-Price. Jackson will get a chance to thrive opposite Nick Bosa, but Davis-Price may not get many carries.

Tampa Bay — C

The running-it-back-again Buccaneers didn’t have many immediate needs so they traded down from 27 to 33 and DT Logan Hall could replace unsigned veteran Ndamukong Suh. They drafted TE Cade Otton to replace O.J. Howard and maybe Rob Gronkowski.

Washington — B

The Commanders did their best work on Day 3. Put us in the camp that thinks QB Sam Howell (fifth round) can be an effective NFL starter. Fifth-round TE Cole Turner will be a key Carson Wentz target.

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