NFL Draft Team Grades

The NFL Draft is complete, which means it’s time for team draft grades. Each team will receive an overall grade and a grade for fantasy football. Did the team address their pre-draft needs on both sides of the ball? Did they bolster their offensive weaponry with an impact player or someone who can directly improve the fantasy production of a teammate? The grades are correlated as follows: 

• A = Team drastically improved
• B = Team improved
• C = No improvement or deterioration
• D = Team deteriorated
• F = Disaster

Let’s take a look at our NFL draft grades for each team from an overall and fantasy football perspective. 

2024 NFL Draft Grades

Arizona Cardinals

Team Needs: Wide receiver, secondary, running back, overall defense

Overall Grade: A-
Fantasy Grade: A-

The Cardinals needed talent, a lot of talent. They certainly had pick volume, with 12 selections throughout the draft. Arizona filled their biggest need with the best wide receiver in the draft, Marvin Harrison Jr. They added edge rusher Darius Robinson from Missouri, who had a fantastic Senior Bowl. They addressed the secondary with four total additions, including explosive cornerback Max Melton from Rutgers. I loved the third-round pick of running back Trey Benson from Florida State, who brings 4.39 speed at 216 pounds, as starter James Conner has missed four or more games in five of the past six seasons. Tight end Tip Reiman is an excellent athlete, but I would have preferred another front seven defensive player there. The additions of Harrison and Benson make this a strong draft for fantasy football

Atlanta Falcons

Team Needs: Pass rusher, secondary, wide receiver

Overall Grade: C+
Fantasy Grade: F

Let’s start with some positives. Atlanta did use four straight picks to improve its defense, led by second-round defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro from Clemson, who is great against the run. The Falcons added a second DT in Brandon Dorlus from Oregon in Round 4, which sandwiched a solid pass-rusher in Washington’s Bralen Trice (16 sacks past two seasons). They still need help in the secondary, but Atlanta improved its overall defense. 

Now, the obvious negatives. Drafting Michael Penix Jr. is the precise reason bad teams stay bad. He is a 24-year-old quarterback who is ready to play immediately. It makes no sense to spend a top-10 pick on Penix when you just signed Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million deal six weeks ago. Atlanta could have saved the money and just picked Penix, or drafted an elite wide receiver (Rome Odunze) or pass rusher. The Falcons still need help at wide receiver alongside Drake London, or is Atlanta banking on a huge Year 4 leap from disappointing tight end Kyle Pitts? The Jase McClellan pick in Round 6 is also confusing, as the Falcons have 24-year-old Tyler Allgeier behind Bijan Robinson. It was a terrible fantasy football draft for Atlanta, period. 

Baltimore Ravens

Team Needs: Offensive line, secondary, wide receiver

Overall Grade: B+
Fantasy Grade: B+

The Ravens continue to dominate the draft, executing their plan with purpose. They addressed their two biggest needs immediately with electric Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins and 6-foot-5, 310-pound offensive tackle Roger Rosengarten. Tez Walker (UNC) may be the steal of the entire draft in Round 4. He sat out the start of season on a transfer suspension that was eventually overruled. I will never doubt Baltimore on running back prospects, and Rasheen Ali fits the mold of a late-round rookie steal this season. He failed to test at the combine or pro day due to a bicep tear in January but produced 40 touchdowns in his last two full seasons at Marshall. 

Buffalo Bills

Team Needs: Wide receiver, secondary, offensive/defensive line 

Overall Grade: B
Fantasy Grade: C+

Keon Coleman is a superb all-around athlete, having played basketball for Tom Izzo at Michigan State before arriving at Florida State. But Coleman is very raw as a receiver, which makes an even bigger disparity as the potential “replacement” for elite route-runner Stefon Diggs. The Bills do not have the most accurate quarterback in Josh Allen, who now adds an inexperienced wideout to a below-average core with Curtis Samuel and Khalil Shakir. The Bills traded back with the Chiefs and passed on the fastest receiver in NFL combine history, Texas’ Xavier Worthy. I like Ray Davis more as a versatile clone to James Cook. I like their non-fantasy picks very much, led by safety Cole Bishop in Round 2. Buffalo added five defensive pieces but still has clearly downgraded in their offensive passing attack. 

Carolina Panthers

Team Needs: Wide receiver, overall defense 

Overall Grade: C
Fantasy Grade: C-

Carolina made four trades in the first two days of the draft, which converted to offensive help. Carolina traded up for Xavier Legette, who is a blistering wideout from South Carolina. The main issue? He only had one season of college productive, an eerily similar profile to Kadarius Toney. If you trade up just one spot to get into Round 1 for a wide receiver, he better be fantastic. Brooks was the best running back in this class and would have been a Round 1 pick if not for a torn ACL. But was that a position of need for Carolina with Miles Sanders and Chuba Hubbard? Trevin Wallace is a good, not great, defensive addition. Their second defensive selection was Chau Smith-Wade in Round 5. The Panthers traded up for a risky wideout and took a redundant running back asset in Round 2, while failing to really address their pass rush. 

Chicago Bears

Draft Needs: Quarterback, pass rusher, offensive line

Overall Grade: B-
Fantasy Grade: A-

Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze were a fantastic start for the Bears. Chicago now boasts an incredible trio of receivers in DJ Moore, Odunze and All-Pro veteran Keenan Allen. Their overall grade drops as a result of spending one of their only five picks on a punter in Round 4. Kansas edge rusher Austin Booker provides limited impact as a rookie. Still, it will always be a strong fantasy draft when you add a starting quarterback and top-3 wideout in the class. 

Cincinnati Bengals

Draft Needs: Wide receiver, defensive line, offensive line

Overall Grade: B+
Fantasy Grade: B

Jermaine Burton is extremely talented but has off-field issues which make his selection a risk. If he doesn’t hit, the Bengals will have a void if Tee Higgins leaves next season. Amarius Mims is 6-foot-7, 340-pounds with insane arm length at 86.75 inches. They added two tight ends in fourth-round Erick All and sixth-round Tanner McLachlan. If one becomes an eventual starter, this was a decent fantasy draft. Add in two run-stopping defensive tackles, and Cincinnati had a solid overall draft as well. 

Cleveland Browns

Team Needs: Offensive tackle, front seven, running back

Overall Grade: C
Fantasy Grade: D

Adding a late-round running back wouldn’t have hurt, with Nick Chubb coming off extensive surgery. Cleveland added Jerry Jeudy, so wide receiver wasn’t necessarily a huge need, but adding no running backs and just a fifth-round wide receiver makes for a rough fantasy assessment. The Browns didn’t bolster the offensive line, and Michael Hall Jr. doesn’t provide excitement with the absence of a first-round pick. 

Dallas Cowboys

Team Needs: Offensive line, running back, defensive line

Overall Grade: C
Fantasy Grade: F

Dallas addressed the offensive line with Tyler Guyton from Oklahoma, trading back five spots and still bolstering the offensive line. That move netted an additional third-round pick, which got Dallas off to a good start. But it went downhill from there, as it failed to use either third-round pick on a much-needed running back. While the value of the position has been reduced over the last decade, Dallas really struggled to run the ball, finishing 18th in run offense DVOA, and lost starting running back Tony Pollard to Tennessee. Are the Cowboys really going to rely on Rico Dowdle and possibly Ezekiel Elliott for their rushing attack? The lack of an efficient running game will force even more pressure on quarterback Dak Prescott. I don’t draw much inspiration from their last three picks, either. Guyton and second-round pick Marshawn Kneeland kept their overall grade at the average level, but this was a terrible overall fantasy draft. 

Denver Broncos

Team Needs: Quarterback, secondary, edge rusher

Overall Grade: C+
Fantasy Grade: B+

It was a better fantasy draft than real draft for Denver, which secured its quarterback of the future in Oregon’s Bo Nix. The Broncos then doubled-down on Nix, adding his college teammate Troy Franklin. Given the loss of Russell Wilson and Jerry Jeudy, this was a good haul for head coach Sean Payton. Audric Estime only ran a 4.71 40-yard dash at the combine but improved to a 4.58 at his pro day. He has superb burst at his 221 pounds and could challenge Javonte Williams for goal-line work. Denver needed cornerback help against its AFC West foes, which places a lot of pressure on Missouri cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine, their second fifth-round selection. 

Detroit Lions

Team Needs: Secondary, wide receiver, edge rusher

Overall Grade: B+
Fantasy Grade: D

The Lions could have used help at wide receiver but failed to invest any draft capital. They did add two pieces to an already strong offensive line, but reached for Giovanni Manu from Canada. They did crush their first two selections with a pair of elite cornerbacks in Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw Jr., and LSU’s Mekhi Wingo should provide an immediate impact as a rookie. Very good overall draft again for the Lions. 

Green Bay Packers

Team Needs: Defensive back, offensive line, linebacker

Overall Grade: B
Fantasy Grade: B

The Packers would have received an overall A grade if they had addressed their secondary with any pick. However, they nabbed a strong offensive tackle in Arizona’s Jordan Morgan and stole linebacker Edgerrin Cooper in Round 2. Green Bay was smart to add USC running back MarShawn Lloyd in Round 3 to support Josh Jacobs, and it even took a swing on Tulane quarterback Michael Pratt in Round 7. They didn’t need to add a lot on offense, but Lloyd’s value secures a B fantasy grade. 

Houston Texans

Team Needs: Defense, offensive line

Overall Grade: B+
Fantasy Grade: B

Houston traded its first-round pick to Minnesota in March, starting this draft in Round 2. The Texans spent five of their nine picks on defense, led by cornerback Kamari Lassiter from Georgia. He is a great cover corner and should bolster their secondary immediately. Offensive tackle Blake Fisher is a great value at Pick 59, with great size at 6-foot-6, 310-pounds. Despite not needing offensive help, the Texans added Ohio State tight end Cade Stover in Round 4, a good run-blocker and pass-catcher. Jawhar Jordan brings much more versatility than Dameon Pierce and could provide fantasy value in Year 1. Houston added a ton of defensive prospects while still adding offensive line depth and a solid tight end. Even without a first-round pick this was a strong draft. 

Indianapolis Colts

Team Needs: Cornerback, wide receiver, edge rusher

Overall Grade: C
Fantasy Grade: B

I love Laiatu Latu as a player. He’s someone with superb athleticism who produces sacks. His style is exactly what NFL teams need to pressure the quarterback within the confines of the current rules. Adonai Mitchell is a very talented prospect with high upside, but character concerns dropped him into Round 2. If the rumors were wrong, this was one of the steals of the draft. He should slot in immediately as a big-play weapon for Anthony Richardson. Oregon State’s Anthony Gould is only 5-foot-8 but brings 4.39 speed, making him the perfect slot receiver on the indoor track at Lucas Oil Stadium. The only issue, who will play cornerback? The Colts primary need was not addressed. 

Jacksonville Jaguars

Team Needs: Wide receiver, cornerback, defensive line

Overall Grade: B-
Fantasy Grade: B

Jacksonville traded back six spots and still selected LSU wideout Brian Thomas at No. 23. He crushed his pro day, running a 4.33 40-yard dash with a 38.5 inch vertical jump. Running back Keilan Robinson is fast (4.42) but isn’t an every-down player. If cornerback Jarrian Jones is better than expected, and Thomas can fill the Calvin Ridley void, this was an underrated draft. But if either player fails, the Jaguars didn’t fill their two biggest needs. I love Thomas, especially with a trade back, which produces a strong fantasy grade by himself. 

Kansas City Chiefs

Team Needs: Wide receiver, offensive line, defensive tackle 

Overall Grade: B+
Fantasy Grade: A

Kansas City is a great organization, and it wasted no time acquiring wide receiver help with the blistering speed of Xavier Worthy. His record-breaking speed will more than compensate if Rashee Rice is suspended. The Chiefs also needed to start thinking about Travis Kelce retiring, which makes the fourth-round selection of Jared Wiley a smart pick. Kansas City loved offensive tackle Kingsley Suamataia, and there were rumors of trading up to select him in Round 1, but the Chiefs secured him with the 63rd overall pick. The Chiefs didn’t add the defensive tackle help they needed, but spending their first three picks on key positions earns them strong marks. 

Las Vegas Raiders

Team Needs: Quarterback, cornerback, offensive line

Overall Grade: C
Fantasy Grade: D

Las Vegas would have likely taken Michael Penix Jr. if he fell and also lost out on Bo Nix when Denver snatched the Oregon product one pick earlier. The pick of Brock Bowers makes no sense after taking Michael Mayer in Round 2 last season. It feels like a panic pick when they could have taken any cornerback on the board. They did address the offensive line with a great value in Oregon center Jackson Powers-Johnson in Round 2 and Maryland’s Delmar Glaze in Round 3. Dylan Laube scored in every possible way at New Hampshire and was a nice Round 6 insurance pick against Alexander Mattison. 

Los Angeles Chargers

Team Needs: Offensive line, wide receiver, defensive tackle

Overall Grade: A
Fantasy Grade: A+

Brilliant job by the Chargers, executing a clear vision throughout the draft. They grabbed an elite offensive tackle in Joe Alt, followed by a steal of wide receiver Ladd McConkey in Round 2. They added two cornerbacks in Round 5 and ended the draft with three offensive chess pieces, headlined by mega-producer Kimani Vidal from Troy. This is how you find value without reaching for prospects. Great job by general manager Joe Hortiz and head coach Jim Harbaugh.

Los Angeles Rams

Team Needs: Defensive tackle, offensive line, cornerback 

Overall Grade: B
Fantasy Grade: B+

There were rumors that head coach Sean McVay wanted to find offense with their first Round 1 pick since the 2016 season, but they found fantastic value with Florida State edge rusher Jared Verse. They also filled the Aaron Donald void with sack machine Braden Fiske in Round 2. Blake Corum will push Kyren Williams for touches, even after Williams’ superb 2023 season. Jordan Whittington is a converted running back who could easily produce under McVay’s tutelage. I don’t doubt late-round Rams picks after Puka Nacua’s explosion last season as a fifth-round selection. 

Miami Dolphins

Team Needs: Offensive line, defensive Line, wide receiver

Overall Grade: A
Fantasy Grade: A-

I love teams that stay true to who they are, and that’s what Miami did with the fourth-round selection of Tennessee running back Jaylen Wright. He has 4.38 speed at 210-pounds and is necessary insurance with injury concerns for Raheem Mostert and De’Von Achane. They added depth with a pair of wide receivers late and started the draft with a dynamic pass rusher in Chop Robinson. The Dolphins filled every need across the board. 

Minnesota Vikings

Team Needs: Quarterback, cornerback, pass rusher

Overall Grade: B-
Fantasy Grade: B+

Minnesota got its quarterback in J.J. McCarthy, who most thought could go inside the top 3. No one can argue with getting edge rusher Dallas Turner at No. 17, as most thought he was a top-10 pick. The Vikings added offensive line help with 6-foot-6 Walter Rouse in Round 6 and can always benefit from kicking help with Will Reichard at pick No. 203. Oregon’s Khyree Jackson filled their secondary need, although it was in Round 4. Was Turner worth sacrificing their third-round pick? Only time will tell. 

New England Patriots

Team Needs: Quarterback, wide receiver, offensive tackle

Overall Grade: B-
Fantasy Grade: C

Just how good is Drake Maye? The Maye vs. McCarthy debate will continue for years, but the Patriots secured his strong arm and prototypical size at the third-overall pick. Ja’Lynn Polk was a late-riser among the NFL’s inner circle, but was he a reach at No. 37? New England needs to protect Maye, so the Polk over an offensive line pick was questionable. Wide receiver Javon Baker was a nice value in Round 4, which makes doubling-down at the position even more curious. Why draft Joe Milton when you spend the No. 3 pick on Maye? I would have preferred the Patriots to trade back, add an extra pick and bolster the offensive line. There’s no clear strategy throughout these picks. 

New Orleans Saints

Team Needs: Offensive line, front seven, wide receiver

Overall Grade: B+
Fantasy Grade: C+

Taliese Fuaga was a great pick at No. 14, and Kool-Aid McKinstry strengthened the secondary immediately. I’m intrigued by Spencer Rattler, who worked behind a poor offensive line at South Carolina. Bub Means has speed (4.43) and found holes in the defense consistently for Pittsburgh. New Orleans didn’t need much on offense but did well with its two pieces if Means contributes during his rookie season. 

New York Giants

Team Needs: Wide receiver, quarterback, secondary 

Overall Grade: B+
Fantasy Grade: B+

The Giants stayed true to quarterback Daniel Jones, which was the right move after giving him $82 million guaranteed last offseason. Malik Nabers is a dynamic playmaker who could be the best receiver in this draft. I love the Tyler Nubin pick in Round 2, who only dropped out of Round 1 because of knee surgery. Tight end Theo Johnson is another superior athlete from Penn State, which is always a strong NFL foundation. Tyrone Tracy has a profile (4.48 speed with good agility) that could make an immediate fantasy impact as a rookie behind Devin Singletary. Andru Phillips was a good slot corner at Kentucky. This was a good draft for the Giants in both categories. 

New York Jets

Team Needs: Offensive line, wide receiver, safety

Overall Grade: B
Fantasy Grade: B

I applauded the Jets for not taking tight end Brock Bowers with the 10th overall pick. With quarterback Aaron Rodgers turning 41 years old in December, they needed to upgrade the offensive line. New York got its offensive tackle in Olu Fashanu while trading back with the Vikings. Why pick two running backs when you drafted Israel Abanikanda last season? I like Braelon Allen, but they could have added a defensive piece with one of those picks. Malachi Corley is a good weapon for Rodgers and is insurance for the brittle Mike Williams. I like the fifth-round flier on Florida State Jordan Travis as well. The Jets certainly added talented offensive pieces for fantasy football. 

Philadelphia Eagles

Team Needs: Cornerback, wide receiver, offensive line

Overall Grade: A
Fantasy Grade: A

General Manager Howie Roseman continues to dominate the draft, bolstering his secondary with two elite cornerbacks in Toledo’s Quinyon Mitchell and Iowa’s Cooper DeJean. He even scored a Round 3 steal with Houston Christian edge rusher Jalyx Hunt. I love running back Will Shipley in Round 4, who adds depth behind Saquon Barkley. Shipley is an elite pass-catcher from Clemson who may supplant Kenneth Gainwell. Philadelphia also added wide receiver help with Ainias Smith and Johnny Wilson. Great all-around draft for the Eagles, yet again. 

Pittsburgh Steelers

Team Needs: Offensive line, wide Receiver, defense 

Overall Grade: A+
Fantasy Grade: A

The Steelers simply “get it.” Pittsburgh added two hogs on the offensive line with 6-foot-4 Troy Fautanu and 6-foot-3 Zach Frazier. They added a Hines Ward clone in Michigan wideout Roman Wilson who is fast (4.39) and a great blocker. Linebacker Payton Wilson had medical concerns but is a true ball-hawk. Throw in OL depth with Mason McCormick in Round 4, and this was one of my favorite drafts in the league. 

San Francisco 49ers

Team Needs: Offensive line, wide receiver, cornerback

Overall Grade: B+
Fantasy Grade: B+

Ricky Pearsall may seem like a first-round reach, but if C.J. Stroud’s reaction is any indication, he should make an immediate impact. With trade rumors circulating for Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel, this was a critical need. Renardo Green addressed the cornerback issue, and Kansas guard Dominick Puni is a strong Round 3 pick for the offensive line. I love Isaac Guerendo in Round 4. If anything happens to Christian McCaffrey, Guerendo’s 4.33 at the combine will be on display. He is also a good receiver. Arizona wide receiver Jacob Cowing adds nice depth as well. 

Seattle Seahawks

Team Needs: Offensive line, defensive line, cornerbacks

Overall Grade: B-
Fantasy Grade: C-

I would have preferred Seattle to draft one of the elite offensive linemen in Round 1 but instead bolstered the defensive front with the talented, but undersized Byron Murphy. The Seahawks picked guard Christian Haynes in Round 2 but only added tight end AJ Barner to the offense in Round 4. As more of a blocking tight end, there just isn’t much fantasy value to get excited about here. Seattle needs one of its cornerbacks to develop to make this draft higher than a B-. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Team Needs: Offensive line, linebacker, wide receiver

Overall Grade: B+
Fantasy Grade: B+

Graham Barton was a great pick at No. 26, as Tampa Bay needed to improve on its league-worst rushing attack per DVOA. Grabbing wide receiver Jalen McMillan in Round 3 was fantastic, bringing 4.47 speed and a good catch radius. I also love Oregon running back Bucky Irving in Round 4, an elite pass-catcher with quickness. You can’t go wrong with adding a pass-rusher from Alabama, which bodes well for Chris Braswell in Round 2. 

Tennessee Titans

Draft Needs: Offensive line, wide receiver, linebacker

Overall Grade: B
Fantasy Grade: C

I love the JC Latham pick at No. 7, which was followed by Outland Trophy winner T’Vondre Sweat in Round 2. If Sweat’s off-the-field issues are behind him, that’s as strong a draft start as any team. The only offensive skill player was Tulane wide receiver Jha’Quan Jackson, who brings raw speed. I needed a better wide receiver addition to give this a higher fantasy grade. 

Washington Commanders

Team Needs: Quarterback, offensive line, cornerback

Overall Grade: A
Fantasy Grade: A

Jayden Daniels may be the best quarterback in this draft. His dual-threat ability is critical for a team trying to compete in the challenging NFC East. I love all three Round 2 picks, with DT Jer’Zhan Newton getting a Round 1 grade on most draft boards. Mike Sainristil is an aggressive cornerback who can defend and hit. Tight end Ben Sinnott is very athletic and a strong blocker. Add in wide receiver Luke McCaffrey in Round 3, and Washington gets high marks across the board.