#11 – Bills select FS Malaki Starks
Pre DDT Grade: D+
Pre DDT Analysis: Very underwhelming player out the box unfortunately. This filled a definite need for Buffalo, which is the only reason I won’t dock the grade any further down. But you could’ve gotten a player of his caliper deeper in the draft.
Post DDT Grade: C-
Post DDT Analysis: The Star dev at least makes this pick not a fail. But looking at the safety class, you wonder if the Bills could’ve picked someone else at this spot.
#12 – Panthers select HB Henry Parrish Jr
Pre DDT Grade: C
Pre DDT Grade: For someone who chastises Cammy for having Roc Taylor at RB, this man just drafted a smaller Roc Taylor at 12th overall! He should be a great receiving back in Carolina at least, and that 94 speed out the gate is good enough to give this a C.
Post DDT Grade: C+
Post DDT Analysis: The Panthers have their Thunder and Lightning with Braylon Allen and Henry Parrish Jr…but them both being first round picks is painful. We can’t grade JT having fun on a curve.
#13 Ravens select Kelvin Banks Jr
Pre DDT Grade: A+
Pre DDT Analysis: Playing for the Longhorns means a great chance at a dev, AND this was the best oline prospect of the draft. He should not have dropped to 13, but Baltimore is pumped up that he did!
Post DDT Grade: A++
Post DDT Analysis: The SS dev means this is perhaps the best value pick of the entire draft alongside a certain QB we’ll get to soon.
#14 Texans select FS Xavier Nwankpa
Pre DDT Grade: C+
Pre DDT Analysis: If the Texans were banking on Xavier being a Sub LB, this is a F because he has 50 Awareness. But if they wanted a Jalen Pitre replacement, then they’ve got their man. I’m not going to penalize prior GM moves in this grade, but if I was I’d dock points for trading Pitre to get half a year of Deebo Samuel and to draft a lesser player.
Post DDT Grade: B-
Post DDT Analysis: Star dev at least secures that Xavier has an accelerated path to be as good as [and hopefully better than] Jalen Pitre before the cycle ends. And at the very least, be the free safety of the future for Houston.
#15 Dolphins select QB Drew Allar
Pre DDT Grade: A+
Pre DDT Analysis: Deebo went from the worst value first round pick last year to the absolute best. How did the Dolphins get Allar without trading up!? This is a borderline miracle the Dolphins got their franchise QB at 15 when they absolutely had to take a QB.
Post DDT Grade: A+
Post DDT Analysis: Drew could’ve gotten Normal dev and this still would’ve been a max grade. Star dev is icing on the cake.
#16 Vikings select SS Nick Emmanwori
Pre DDT Grade: B-
Pre DDT Analysis: I don’t know what has triggered the 4th safety to be taken in the top half of the first round, but I’d argue Minnesota got the best of the 4 players. For one, he’s only 3 Awareness points from being Sub LB. Also, he can either give them a Day 1 starter deep or a 3rd safety to play on the field. This will give the Vikings good roster flexibility long story short.
Post DDT Grade: B-
Post DDT Grade: Minnesota ended up having one of the best draft classes in the league, but this wasn’t their prize pick as Nick only gets Normal dev.
#17 – Giants select CB Jarvis Brownlee
Pre DDT Grade: A+
Pre DDT Analysis: The Giants could not have made a better pick at this spot. This gives them a 2nd franchise CB to pair with Deonte Banks, and an absolute Day 1 ready CB at that. Chef’s kiss, perfect pick!
Post DDT Grade: A+
Post DDT Analysis: Normal dev doesn’t deter this from being one of the best picks of round 1. But if he doesn’t get a dev soon, it dents his ceiling.
#18 – Seahawks select DE Ethan Burke
Pre DDT Grade: B-
Pre DDT Analysis: This was an absolute need pick for Seattle, as they continue to try to build up a dline that was a porous unit to start the cycle. This is also going all-in for trying to get a dev from a CFB Champ Longhorn…he’ll need a dev or else this pick may backfire.
Post DDT Grade: B-
Post DDT Grade: Burke gets Star dev, which you felt like was more than within the realm of possibility on draft so it doesn’t move the needle.
#19 – Steelers select DT Jaheim Oatis
Pre DDT Grade: C+
Pre DDT Analysis: The big fella should help fill a big void left by Cam Heyward’s retirement. I just wonder if a player like this could’ve waited a round before getting picked, but the Steelers needed to fill this whole and got a solid player.
Post DDT Grade: A-
Post DDT Analysis: Kinda like the Bengals #3 overall pick, DDT saves the day for another AFC North team with a SS dev. A final parting gift from big Cam, if you must.
#20 – Titans select OLB Jihaad Campbell
Pre DDT Grade A+
Pre DDT Analysis: A physical freak who is day 1 ready. A better OLB than the man who went 3rd overall. Like their AFC South counterpart in Indy, the Titans for the 2nd year in a row absolutely nail a first round pick!
Post DDT Grade: A+
Post DDT Analysis: Star dev sweetens the deal for a guy that could be in the running for DROTY
