With the 2025 draft complete, theScore's senior NFL writer Dan Wilkins hands out his initial grades for each team's incoming rookies.
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Grade: B+
Starks is the quintessential Ravens pick; it shouldn't be surprising they were the ones to scoop him up when he fell further than expected in the first round. His instincts, range, and ball skills will make him a great fit next to Kyle Hamilton in the secondary. Green fills a big need on the edge, and the expected first-round pick was available on Day 2 because he's twice been accused of sexual assault. Jones is a talented lineman who could have some starter upside with a transition inside to guard, and Buchanan's coverage skills at linebacker made him one of my hidden gems of this class. Another strong year for Baltimore.
Grade: D+
The Bengals deserve some credit for attacking their biggest needs - defensive line, linebacker, and guard were all significant areas of concern heading into this draft. But it's not so easy to get on board with how they went about their business. Stewart is a project player up front. He's one of the best athletes at the position, but he's got a long way to go before he puts it all together. Knight is a solid run defender, but he doesn't quite offer the same upside in the pass game. And Fairchild in the third round isn't great value. This group may not provide the instant impact the Bengals need right now.
Grade: A
This is a wild one to evaluate. Passing on Travis Hunter by trading out of the No. 2 spot is a questionable move; the two-way Colorado star truly is that special. That being said, it's easy enough to understand why Cleveland preferred the picks haul. Jacksonville's 2026 first-rounder could help the Browns get in position for the quarterback of their choice in next year's draft. And it's easy to be excited about what they did with this year's collection of picks. Graham, my No. 4 overall player, is an elite talent on the interior defensive front. He'll be a lot of fun lined up next to Myles Garrett. Schwesinger is this draft's best coverage linebacker, Judkins and Sampson can provide a true thunder-and-lightning combination in the backfield, and Fannin is a unique run-after-catch playmaker at tight end. And then there's Sanders. The Browns taking Gabriel two rounds earlier is definitely strange, but we'll overlook that for now. Sanders could compete to start right away, potentially making him one of the draft's biggest steals. Overall, this is a strong group to help get the Browns' rebuild on track.
Grade: B+
The Steelers were considered a potential Shedeur Sanders landing spot each time they were on the clock through the first four rounds. Passing on every such opportunity would appear to indicate some sort of understanding Aaron Rodgers will eventually sign in Pittsburgh, and this class looks good with that in mind. Harmon fills a pressing need on the defensive line, providing a power skill set equally effective against the run and pass. The second-round pick was traded for DK Metcalf. Johnson's a perfect fit for this Steelers offense after dominating as an outside-zone runner at Iowa; he should immediately step in as the lead back. Sawyer could also prove to be a nice value pick in the fourth round, as he's always managed to produce despite an average athletic profile and lack of length. The Steelers have developed a bit of a reputation for disappointing in January, but they're one of the league's more consistent teams in April.
