2024 HFL Draft Grades

AFC 
Bills

R1P23: OT Matt James C+

R2P38: CB Forrest Ward B

R2P55: S Andrew. Sharpton B+

R4P119: IOLCameron Clancy B

R5P151: IOL Maxwell Stephens B-

R6P183: CB Greg Hyde B+

R7P215: QB Dan Allen C

Grade: B-

There were certainly better Offensive Tackles available than Matt James, but the Bills came in with a plan to attack the offensive line, and they came out with three developable prospects - and I really like both of the interior pieces that they picked up. Many knocked Forrest Ward for his size, but that’s not how I operate in evaluating talent because that’s not how sports works. You can be a good corner at 5’9” or 6’3”. You can be a good Point Guard at 5’10” or 6’8”. It’s about skills and traits, period. And Forrest Ward certainly has those. If size was all that mattered, Tacko Fall would be the best hooper in the world, LeBron James would be better than Michael Jordan, and John Elway would have the greatest collection of quarterbacks ever drafted. Dan Allen, uh, at least you maybe got a backup quarterback. For Bills fans, it doesn’t get much worse than Nathan Peterman or JaKKKe Fromm. Note: higher draft picks are weighted higher in the grading scale, so keep that in mind with the remaining teams.

Dolphins

R1P26: IOL Max Woodard B+

R3P80: IOL Bret Barker A-
R3P92: S Nick FitzHenry B

R4P124: OT Carson McCain B

R5P148: QB Thomas Brock C-

R5P156: EDGE Antonio Sheffield A-

R6P176: LB Gio Pearman C+

R6P188: RB Eddie Woodbury B+
R7P220: DT Mike Verner C

Grade: B+

If the Bills attacked the offensive line, the Dolphins went almost full-blown nuclear in upgrading theirs. Speaking of traits, Barker and FitzHenry (Fordham product!) are incredibly twitchy athletes at their position, McCain had the best Bench Rep production in the entire class, and Sheffield is an Edge guy that runs a similar forty to Washington Safety Jaylen Carter. Woodbury is a big, strong back with some breakaway speed. 

Jets

R1P6: RB Jackson King Jr. A++

R1P10: WR Darren Streets A-

R2P42: EDGE A.J. Fort B-

R4P106: EDGE Salvador Roman C

R4P122: OT Roosevelt Rhodes C+

R5P138: LB John Leverette B

R6P170: CB Braxton Huffman C

R6P186: RB Kyree Robertson C

R7P202: QB Colton Schneider C+

Grade: B+

Spoilers: I gave out just two A+’s in this entire draft. King is like that. The most complete back to come out of the college ranks since McCaffery. Attacked the Edge twice in the middle of the draft, and came away with A.J. Fort who should be a solid run defender but neither brings much athleticism to the pass rush. Leverette is a linebacker with a very nice combination of athleticism and instincts. Schneider is a backup caliber quarterback with elite mobility, think of Washington’s Cam Anderson from last year’s draft.

Patriots

R1P31: LB Tyreke Heyward A-

R2P63: OT Joseph Sweeney B

R3P95:  WR Ja’Michael Michaels B

R4P127: IDL LaMarcus Dorsey C+

R6P191:  CB Alan White C

R7P212: LB Derrick Joseph C+

R7P217: WR Brendan Holcombe C+

R7P223: OT John Caldwell C

Grade: B

Heyward is just the next in a long line of products to come out of #LinebackerU and the Patriots win out in the long run by not having to pay Isaiah Simmons. Sweeney is very raw but has limitless potential. Michaels is elite at winning the 50-50 ball in the air, and Holcombe is the type of Patriot Wide Receiver to somehow make the Hall of Fame one day because God hates us all. A good draft for a team that did not have many needs to fill.

Bengals

R1P4: IOL Thor Herleifsson A+

R2P36: TE Brian Payton A-

R2P49: OT Magnus Flufferson A

R2P56: WR Alfonso Elston B-

R3P68: IOL Jeremiah McGrath B+

R4P100: IDL Tommy Winslow C

R5P132: WR Timmy Russell B

R6P164: RB Jason Owens C+

R6P177: EDGE Trevor Brown B

R7P196: WR B.J. Amerson B

Grade: A-

Thor and JKJ were the only A+’s in this class, and Brian Payton is a crazy athlete at TE with sky high potential. Elston and Amerson have tons of speed, while Russell is just more well-rounded than both of them. When Jeremiah McGrath is the third best OL you have picked, you’ve done something huge. 

Browns

R1P22: QB Frank Summers F

R2P54: IOL Darrell Barclay A

R3P86: S Jerome Kilgore C-

R4P118: OT Alex Gentry C+

R5P150: RB Greg Ware B-

R6P182: LB Jayden Hartman C-

R7P214: IOL Paul Oldham D+

Grade: C-

The list of Browns Quarterbacks drafted 22nd overall: Brady Quinn, Brandon Weeden, Johnny Manziel, Frank Summers. Barclay is an absolute demon, but this class left a lot to be desired. 

Ravens

R1P19: EDGE Dalton Barnett A-

R2P51: LB Tony Farhat B-

R2P57: WR Arthur Neal A-

R3P75: IDL Dorian Bernard B+

R3P76: LB DeMarcus Alexander A-

R4P108: IOL Dwain Lytle B

R5P140: IOL Ben Lippett C-

R5P153: QB Bernard Hampton D

R6P172: IOL Bret Olsen B+

R7P204: CB Damien Crawford B-

Grade: B+

Arthur Neal is an incredible athlete out wide, as well as Dalton Barnett on the Edge, and the Ravens have an innate ability to develop front seven talent. I expect mixed results between the three interior pieces they drafted on the o-line. The Hampton grade is more about the current state of the Ravens’ QB room than anything else. 

Steelers

R2P50: WR Alex Gettis B+

R2P82: LB Zion Pearman B-

R4P114: IOL Josh Vogel B-

R5P146: OT Mack Sharpton C

R6P178: IDL Quincy Shepherd B

R7P210: OT Donovan Bassey B

Grade: A

This would have been a solid-B class across the board, but this isn’t about the picks. 

THEY. ADDED. GEORGE. FLIPPING. KITTLE.

Texans 

R1P7: OT Jerry Carruthers C-

R1P24: RB Daniel Simmons B

R2P39: EDGE Reggie Kirksey A-

R3P71: EDGE Cameron Arrington A-

R4P103: OT Tank Smith B

R5P135: CB Igo Strazdins B-

R6P167: FB Stephen Winters D+

R7P199: WR Keith Lewis C

Grade: B-

Carruthers will have a lot to prove and Daniel Simmons is a good Running Back, though not sure if he is the type of game-changing back that’s worthy of a 1st round pick. The saving grace of this class is picking not own, but TWO explosive Edge rushers.

Colts

R1P16: OT Caleb Richards C+

R1P25: CB Julius Baxter B+

R2P48: RB Luke Hillhouse B

R3P70: S Greg Mobley B-

R4P112: WR Jackson Brown Jr. A

R5P144: IDL Matt Haynes B-

R7P208: RB T.J. Peck D+

Grade: B+

Hillhouse might actually be the second best back in this class, though the gap is still pretty significant, with a good all-around combination of skills, but are there enough touches in Jonathan Taylor’s offense? Jackson Brown Jr. is very much in the conversation for “steal of the draft”. The explosive wideout is the type that we may look back on much like Michael Thomas or Antonio Brown one day and say, “Wow, the best WR in this class was drafted when?”

Jaguars

R1P17: QB Justice Jackson B+

R3P81: S James Holmes B-

R4P113: TE George Rudolph B

R5P145: IDL Steven Street B+

R6P177: RB Monty Williams C

Grade: B

In a weaker quarterback class, Jackson may be the most talented. Which, taking him at 17, would probably be another A+ pick, and I believe in his talent. BUT, there’s also the Trevor Lawrence situation. For this pick to have value, Jackson HAS to be better than Lawrence. And that’s certainly possible but definitely not a guarantee. 

Titans

R1P21: RB Troy Stanford B

R2P53: CB Orlando Whitmore C+

R3P85: LB Brian Abraham B-

R4P117: QB Greg Alexander C-

R5P149: IOL Ryland Hartwig D+

R6P181: IDL Lyndell Glover C-

R7P213: CB Bruce Campbell D

Grade: C+

Stanford is very comparable to Simmons, so them being picked closed together feels right but still not sure if either is a 1st round back. Whitmore is more a small fish in a big pond of Corners this year.

Broncos

R1P1: QB Max Howser B

R2P33: IOL Josh Macklin A-

R3P65: LB Brian Davis D-

R3P87: LB Julius Bethel B+

R4P97: S Lamar Hannah C+

R5P129: LB Tom Byron C-

R6P161: CB Travis Sherman C+

R7P193: OT Ryan Dickerson C

Grade: B-

I’m a sucker for the first pick after  a franchise quarterback is on the o-line or a wideout. This show is all about Max Howser now. Will the Broncos be able to get the max out of his career? 

Chargers

R1P3: QB Marquise Norton B

R2P35: WR Killan Mesoftly B+

R3P67: RB Xavien Woods A-

R4P99: OT James Savage D+

R5P131: EDGE P. Harrison C

R6P163: WR Nazir Edmonds B-

Grade: B

The prospect of an offense that has Norton, Woods, Killan,  Edmonds, and Lambo is crazy exciting, but will it be enough to overtake the Chiefs and Raiders?

Chiefs

R1P27: TE Willy Maldonado II    A

R2P59: WR Kion Golden B+

R3P69: LB Copium Jones A

R4P111: IOL Brendan Rusnak B-

R5P155: QB Ernest Hemingway C-

R6P187: LB Roy Wagner C+

Grade: A-

If ever there was an offense built for Mahomes, it’s one where he’s able to throw the ball up to big targets like Maldonado and Golden. Copium Jones might be the Jackson Brown of the defensive side of the ball where we have no idea in five years how he stayed on the board so long. The #ChiefsKingdom remains a tremendous threat and potential favorite in the AFC for years to come. 

Raiders

R1P29: EDGE Deshaun Lashley B-

R2P58: OT Sidney Barrett B

R2P61: IDL Will Barner B-

R3P93: LB Colt McLean C

R4P125: CB Sirius Maya A

R5P157: RB Rontay Thornton C

R6P189: OT Damarius Dowling C

R7P221: CB Tony Carr C

Grade: B-

Boy, were the Raiders sirius about upgrading their Secondary or what? NFC

Cowboys

R1P12: S Latrelle Scott A-

R1P30: CB Jahron Brathwaite A

R3P88: EDGE Travis Woods B+

R3P89: OT Richard Fitzpatrick B-

R5P159: WR Aaron Lafferty C

R6P185: EDGE Darrell Holiday C

Grade: A-

The Cowboys did a tremendous job in supplementing their Jaylon Johnson signing with both of their first round picks. Travis Woods and Richard Fitzpatrick are above average athletes at their positions. 

Eagles

R1P32: IDL Trent Tucker A-

R3P96: WR Xavier Spade B+

R4P128: CB Lorenzo Jenkins B-

R5P160: QB DeAndre Breaston D

R6P192: LB Moses Callaway C+

R7P224: WR Josh McMillian C

Grade: B

The Eagles lost their emotional leader in Fletcher Cox, but picked up a pretty darn good replacement. Tucker is a big man that can both move and hold his own, even against double teams. Lorenzo Jenkins and Moses Callaway are promising prospects on defense that will need some development. Spade is a slot receiver with elite shiftiness. The title defense begins now.

Commanders

R1P9: CB Key’Vaughn Arrington A-

R2P41: OT Darogabo Omujiya B

R3P73: OT DeAngelo Cooper A-

R4P105: IDL Kingston Oluwade B

R4P115: LB Kurt Harrison C+

Grade: B+

Washington adds two Day 1 starters on the offensive line and what will eventually be the replacement for their hired gun in Super Bowl MVP “Big Play” Slay. The downside to Oluwade is that he is 24 years old already. 

Giants

R1P15: LB Matthew Edwards A-

R2P47: LB Felix Locke B

R3P79: IDL Quinston Melvin A-

R5P143: S Dudley Wallace C+

R5P154: S Landry Richards C+

R6P169: CB Travis Jacobs C

R6P175: RB Alfonso Charles C-

R7P207:  WR Troy Walden C+

R7219: IDL Aaron Purcell D+

Grade: B-

The Giants made a couple of nice picks but it’s not nearly enough to make up for what they lost in the offseason. The mass exodus will likely lead the Giants to becoming the “favorites” to finish last in the division. Edwards, Locke, and Melvin should be some good building blocks in the front seven, but not many other needs were addressed.

Bears

R1P2: CB Damien Rose A

R1P30: EDGE Tavon Thornton B-

R2P34: WR Anthony Matias A-

R3P66: S Niles Alston B-

R3P90: QB Carl Garner D+

R4P98: WR Sam Pryor B+

R5P130: IDL Don Bayless B-

R5P152: TE Carey Redding C

R6P162: EDGE Jon Clifton C+

R7P194: IOL Brian Meredith C

Grade: A-

Chicago knocked it out of the park by getting a bona fide lockdown corner who has the potential to be the best in the league at that one day, and adding to the receiving corps with deep threat Matias and patented Texas Tech slot man Sam Pryor.  I think the biggest question mark is Tavon Thornton, not because he’s not a good player - he is - but between him and Carl Lawson, I think the Bears may struggle to find that pass rushing upside without Khalil Mack.

Lions

R1P5: LB Logan Bear A

R2P37: CB Shy’Keen Hardaway B+

R3P91: TE Drew Sutherland C+

R4P101: CB Sidney Hatchett C+

R4P123: RB Darrius McLean B-

R5P133: IDL Dominique Black B-

R5P137: S Darrelle Stamper C

R6P165: IOL Marques Walls C

R7P197: IOL Kirk Brackins D

Grade: B

Logan Bear is this year’s Caleb Tidmore, as a do-it-all every down linebacker, and comes in as yet another piece of the defensive rebuild of the Lions, and he’s joined by his Spartan teammate  in Hardaway. McLean has potential to make an impact in the return game, but after the top two rounds it was a pretty ho-hum draft for Detroit, not good but not bad either. 

Packers

R7P218: QB Juan Bolden D-

Grade: D-

There’s nothing to really talk about here, is there? This team isn’t a player in the draft.

Vikings

R2P44: RB Brandon Gallimore B+

R3P83: OT Brenton Dray B

R5P147: TE Kurt Stenzel B

R6P179: LB Robert Peterson C

R7P211: CB Johnathan Cumberland C

Grade: B

For losing one of the league’s best in Dalvin Cook, they did a decent job of replacing him with Gallimore who’s quickness will greatly complement Lamar in the Vikes’ backfield. Adding Bray and Stenzel to lead the way should give them an elite rushing attack.

Buccaneers

R1P20: QB Ben Shaffer C+

R2P52: RB Jeremy McNeill B-

R2P60: S Derrick Hales A-

R3P84: LB Jamie Chambers B

R4P116: CB Bret Billups C

R4P121: TE Antoine Simard C-

R6P180: RB Cam Ealy C+

Grade: C+

The good: Derrick Hales - an incredibly instinctive and thumping Safety, that still may struggle a bit in coverage.

The bad: 

The ugly: You’ve maybe noticed a theme here, but investing valuable draft capital in quarterbacks this year may not have been the smartest of decisions.

Falcons

R1P11: CB Manny Shelby D

R2P43: IDL Trevor Martin B+

R3P75: S Delonte West B+

R4P107: S Jarrad Martin B

R5P139: IOL Rich Hutchinson D-

R6P171: RB Cam Dunlap C+

R7P203: WR Mitch Reece C

Grade: C

So much depth at Cornerback in this class, and they wind up with the shakiest of all of them. Skills aren’t developed to starter-level right now, and does not have elite upside either. Martin and West have high potential as a tandem and Martin is a force up front, but this draft is a lot of meh for Atlanta.

Panthers

R1P14: WR Pat Ward B

R2P46: IDL Antwan Wimley B+

R4P110: S Rasheem Watts C

R5P142: CB Ja’Mario Shepherd C

R6P174: EDGE Sidney Turner B+

R7P206: EDGE Matt Jackson C

Grade: B-

The Panthers really spearheaded their rebuild through Free Agency, and Herbert plus Henry should equal some opposing Defensive Coordinator nightmares, but they didn’t do a whole lot in the draft to add high potential and exciting youth to their roster. Wimbley and Turner add some of it up front but they’ve still got some significant holes, and Ward was not as highly regarded as other wide receivers in the draft.

Saints

R2P62: WR Joe Richardson B

R3P74: CB Marcus Ryans B-

R3P96: LB Zack Drew C-

R4P26: LB Charles Meriweather C+

R5P158: OT Leon Southward D-

R6P190: RB Jose Jones C-

R7P201: WR Elijah Garrard C

R7P222: IOL Heath Barnes C

Grade: B+

Their draft is a lot like the Steelers, though I think Pittsburgh may have added slightly more potential through the draft, but this about them going all in by going out and getting Khalil Mack, who may have just one or two more years as a true impact player. The Saints are pushing the chips in, and are probably the favorite in the NFC.

49ers

R1P18: TE John Durango A-

R2P64: OT Vito Ehrgott B

R6P184: IOL Kyle Meyers D+

R7P216: RB Jerome Holloway C-

Grade: B-

A small draft class but, at the end of the day, they added two more impact players to an already championship caliber roster, getting significantly younger at one of their most important positions. 

Cardinals

R1P14: EDGE Jermaine Patterson B+

R2P46: LB Ezekiel Rankin B-

R3P78: S Antonio Weatherspoon B+

R4P110: EDGE J.D. Pearman C+

R4P120: TE Jonathan Patton B-

R5P142: EDGE Sheldon Rogers B-

R6P174: DT DaQuan Graham C+

R7P206: OT Landon Stratton C-

Grade: B

The Cardinals did an adequate job of replenishing their defensive depth, while Jones, Fuller, and Watt continue to age and Simmons walked out the door. I don’t know if they added any franchise players, but at least the first three picks should be fairly immediate contributors.

Rams 

R1P8: LB Remmy Bridgewater A

R2P40: RB Tank Bigsby A-

R3P72: LB Glen Hennings C+

R4P104: CB JJ Alexander B-

R5P136: S Shareef Alexander C

R6P168: LB Colton Spitzer C+

R7P200: EDGE Michael Ferrell C

Grade: B+ 

The Rams absolutely knocked it out of the park in the first two rounds. Then, it kind of falls off of a cliff after that. If they can even find one other guy to step up and make a significant impact, they can call this draft a success in a few years. I’d watch out for Colton Spitzer most out of that other group.

Seahawks

R4P102: QB Wilbur Ford C

R5P134: WR Pat Kellum B-

R6P166: EDGE Marcus Arnaud B-

R7P198: LB Alonzo Belser C+

Grade: C+

This franchise is an abomination and a disgrace.