#1 Pick – Cincinnati Bengals select WR Nick Harbor
Pre DDT Draft Grade: C
Post DDT Grade: D+
Pre DDT Analysis: The controversial trade up by Cincy has them taking the 6’5 239 pound receiver…and he comes out underwhelming out the box. A 95 spec catch rating seems to have inflated his overall, because his route running certainly isn’t there. For a #1 pick this is debatable for sure. For the trade to #1 the Bengals would get an F in my book.
Post DDT Analysis: Habor not getting SS or XF salts this pick. D+ may be harsh because Harbor is one of the best players in the class. But looking at other WRs in this class and the fact that this was the #1 overall pick, this pick was a swing and a miss.
#2 Pick – Las Vegas Raiders select QB Arch Manning
Pre DDT Draft Grade: B+
Post DDT Grade: A-
Pre DDT Analysis: This grade is largely based on the assumption that the 3rd generation Manning is going to get at least SS dev. He needs it, because Arch comes out of gate built like Jared Goff. The Raiders did need a QB of course, so this was always going to be the pick.
Post DDT Analysis: Arch was expected to get a good dev. But still, a slight boost for getting that XF for a rookie QB. Now you have extra ability slots you can unlock during the next 2 seasons.
#3 Pick – Detroit Lions select QB Nico Iamaleava
Pre DDT Draft Grade: A
Post DDT Draft Grade: A+
Pre DDT Analysis: Nico’s physicals certainly blow Arch out of the waters. And his accuracies are good enough and can easily be raised in a few weeks’ worth of reps. The Lions were ultra aggressive be in position to get 1 of the 2 clear cut top QBs of the class and cashed in. The O’Brien trophy winner has a great chance at a dev too that can boost this to an A+.
Post DDT Analysis: We talked about Nico’s physicals, but the unexpected result of this pick is Nico getting SS dev. That’s a huge bonus.
#4 Pick – San Francisco 49ers select WR CJ Smith
Pre DDT Draft Grade: A-
Post DDT Grade: A-
Pre DDT Grade: A 4.24 40 yard dash in Madden will always put your draft stock this high. While the 9ers had other position holds, it’s hard to argue that they didn’t get the best player available. A 20 year old with 97 speed, nuff said.
Post DDT Analysis: Star dev is cool but doesn’t move the needle. It’s still all about that speed.
#5 Pick – Los Angeles Chargers select WR Chase Roberts
Pre DDT Grade: B+
Post DDT Grade: A
Pre DDT Analysis: The Chargers were rumored to be eyeing CJ Smith, even trading up to 5 on draft day, and had to result to a very solid Plan B when Smith was taken the pick before. 6’4 and 95 speed will give Justin Herbert a fun new toy. 99 Spec Catch does inflate his overall, but he’s arguably a better prospect than the #1 pick of the draft.
Post DDT Analysis: Like Nico, SS Dev was highly unexpected for Chase. The rookie out of BYU has a good chance to be a 90 OVR by the end of the season.
#6 Pick – Arizona Cardinals select RG Michael Pettus
Pre DDT Grade: B+
Post DDT Grade: B+
Pre DDT Analysis: If there’s one thing we learned from last year’s draft, is that the best Oline prospect from the defending CFB champs is a near lock for SS dev. But if he’s not an ability lineman, then this is a failed calculated gamble by the Cards front office.
Post DDT Analysis: As we discussed, this pick was always a calculated gamble on getting SS dev. And the Cards won their gamble.
#7 Pick – Green Bay Packers select SS Miguel Mitchell
Pre DDT Grade: B+
Post DDT Grade: A
Pre DDT Analysis: This is shades of the Cardinals taking James Williams with a top 10 pick in the Season 2 draft, as the Packers essentially go for a Sub LB eligible safety. The good news is he sub LB eligible out the gate, and has the range to play deep. And unlike James Williams, I’d say this is a top 10 prospect.
Post DDT Analysis: Hype supposedly picked the wrong safety here, but it looks like the right pick with SS dev. Could Miguel Mitchell be this season’s Justin Barron or Nick Emmanwori? The potential is there now.
#8 Pick – Baltimore Ravens select FS Dylan Carnell
Pre DDT Grade: B+
Post DDT Grade: A-
Pre DDT Analysis: When you’re the Ravens and don’t have many needs, you can shoot of the stars and mimic Green Bay drafting a sub LB in the top 10. Carnell has a chance to be a beast in the box with 81 strength, and gives the Ravens some defensive versatility to play Kyle Hamilton at his natural SS position more.
Post DDT Analysis: Star dev gives this a slight boost to give Carnell the chance to quickly develop the coverage skills he is slacking on during his rookie campaign.
#9 Pick – Miami Dolphins select MLB Lander Barton
Pre DDT Grade: C
Post DDT Grade: C+
Pre DDT Analysis: This is a big boy, at 6’4 and 262 playing inside backer. Barton is most likely the best off ball LB in the class, but he was not really a top 10 prospect.
Post DDT Analysis: Hey, we got Star dev! If Deebo can user Barton into some interceptions there’s a decent chance Barton has SS dev by the end of the season and this pick can be redeemed. But it’ll be up to Deebo’s user.
#10 Pick – Carolina Panthers select DE Tyre West
Pre DDT Grade: A++
Post DDT Grade: A++
Pre DDT Analysis: I’m struggling to figure out how this guy is only a a 79 overall and not an 89 overall. 90 block shed, 86 power move, AND 87 finesse move to go along with 92 strength and 81 speed? The Lombardi Award winner in college was worth the #1 overall pick and the Panthers got him at #10. Jackpot.
Post DDT Analysis: And he gets SS dev? Ok…this pick is goat’d.
#11 Pick – Houston Texans select OLB Anthony Hill
Pre DDT Grade: A+
Post DDT Grade: A++
Pre DDT Analysis: A 90 speed edge rusher out of the box with above 80 finesse move out the gate and the capability to drop into coverage if needed. This is a homerun pick for a team that traded up to get their guy. Will Anderson now has a new tag team partner to terrorize QBs.
Post DDT Analysis: Well now we add SS dev into the mix, and he really can develop into Will Anderson’s clone by the end of his rookie year.
#12 Pick – Carolina Panthers select HB Trent Howland
Pre DDT Grade: C+
Post DDT Grade: B+
Pre DDT Analysis: Trent seems to have no weaknesses in his game. A physical runner with 91 juke move to boot. This just did not have to be a top 15 pick in the draft, besides gambling on Howland winning the Walker Award in college getting him some DDT love.
Post DDT Analysis: The dev gamble paid off! The only problem is figuring out how Howland can stand out in the same backfield as Braelon Allen, Henry Parrish, and now James Cook.
#13 Pick – Carolina Panthers select WR Jurrion Dickey
Pre DDT Grade: B+
Post DDT Grade: A
Pre DDT Analysis: Dickey should immediately be a starter for a Panthers squad that needed someone to bolster their WR core. He’s 6’2 and looks to be an NFL route runner out the box. Good value pick.
Post DDT Analysis: Not so lil Dickey gets SS dev, giving the Panthers 3 for 3 shooting on their first round picks. Dickey should undoubtedly be the #1 receiver for the Panthers this season now.
#14 Pick – Baltimore Ravens select DT Damonic Williams
Pre DDT Grade: D
Post DDT Grade: F
Pre DDT Analysis: Holy mid. If Will Anderson and Anthony Hill are the new terror squad, Damonic Williams and Jared Verse are the new mid squad. You can sign your own Damonic Williams in free agency right now if you want.
Post DDT Analysis: I’m willing to give this an F now with Normal dev. That’s all, let’s not go in any further than we already have.
#15 Pick – Cincinnati Bengals select SS Jackson Lataimua
Pre DDT Grade: B
Post DDT Grade: B
Pre DDT Analysis: Well the Bengals got their Daxton Hill replacement in style. 80 Zone and 94 speed out the gate is great, but he’s definitely a prospect that needs some development to his other ratings and could struggle in coverage out the gate. Are the Bengals capable of developing their new prospect to help him flourish?
Post DDT Analysis: The normal dev doesn’t change too much since was a pick purely based on physicals.
#16 Pick – Buffalo Bills select DE James Pearce Jr
Pre DDT Grade: F
Post DDT Grade: F-
Pre DDT Analysis: Let me be straight up…w** is this pick? Seriously, this guy could’ve went undrafted and unsigned and no one would blink an eye. And he got taken with pick 16.
Post DDT Analysis: I mean this Pearce guy makes Jared Verse look like Lawrence Taylor
