The key to my draft ultimately will be Stidham. To help him, I took Wills — the 10th overall pick of the 2020 NFL draft — in the fourth round. You can fill in receivers and running backs with average talents, but look at most Super Bowl teams and you’ll find a solid interior core with a lot of high draft picks. I also chose to build the roster around players 26 or younger to get the best years of their careers. If Stidham is the real deal, I’ll see you in the Super Bowl. — Newton

Stat to know: Getting to the QB was a top priority for the Panthers, and they’ve solidified their line with one of the better outside (Bosa) and inside (Buckner) rushers. Bosa’s 0.78 sacks per game ranks third in the NFL over the past four seasons (minimum 40 games). And over the past two years, Buckner has 18.5 sacks when lined up at defensive tackle, third most in the league.

Mike Clay’s draft grade: Tier 4. Bosa is great, but seventh overall is too early. There are more young, impact edge rushers than there are reliable QBs. Buckner is a fine get at 58th, but Stidham under center is a major risk, as is protecting him with an unknown in Wills.

Drafted by Josh Weinfuss, Cardinals reporter

Round 1 (8): Drew Brees, QB
Round 2 (57): Chandler Jones, DE
Round 3 (72): A.J. Green, WR
Round 4 (121): Patrick Peterson, CB

Brees might not have five years left, but he for sure has a good one or two in him, so I immediately went into win-now mode. I followed with arguably the best pass-rusher in the NFL who no one pays attention to; Jones’ 96 sacks since 2012 are the most in that time frame.

I gave Brees one of the four best receivers since 2011 in Green, and paired Jones with a lockdown corner in Peterson. That Jones-Peterson duo will create havoc for offenses and be the cornerstone for a winning defense. — Weinfuss

Stat to know: From 2011 to ’17, Brees threw for over 3,200 yards more than anyone else in that span, while Green was the only receiver to be selected to the Pro Bowl each season.

Mike Clay’s draft grade: Tier 3. It’s 2020 or bust for GM Weinfuss. You may get only one year out of Brees, who is 41, and durability issues for Green, 31, make the veteran receiver risky. Jones, 30, is an elite edge, and while Peterson, 29, is a fine pick, he’s nearing the end of his prime.

Drafted by Mike DiRocco, Jaguars reporter

Round 1 (9): Dak Prescott, QB
Round 2 (56): Danielle Hunter, DE
Round 3 (73): JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR
Round 4 (120): Marshon Lattimore, CB

I wanted players who are 27 or younger. Taking Prescott at No. 9 might raise some eyebrows, but he has averaged 3,944 yards and 24 TD passes in his first four seasons and is coming off his best season. Smith-Schuster is only 23 and will be a top-five receiver as long as he’s not catching passes from Devlin Hodges.

On defense, it’s all about elite pass-rushers and corners, and only Aaron Donald and Chandler Jones had more sacks than Danielle Hunter (29) over the past two seasons. Lattimore was the Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2017 and has made two Pro Bowls in three seasons. Good young players form a fantastic nucleus in the quest to win a Super Bowl within five years. — DiRocco

Stat to know: Prescott has posted an above-average Total QBR in all four seasons of his career and ranked fourth last year at 70.2. The only Jaguars passer to post a QBR that high since the metric began in 2006 was David Garrard in 2007. Hunter could also make Duval County forget about Yannick Ngakoue: Hunter had more sacks (14.5 to 8.0) and pressures (56 to 40) in 2019.

Mike Clay’s draft grade: Tier 1, and my best draft award. I’m surprised Prescott fell to ninth. Hunter is only 25 and remains painfully underrated. Smith-Schuster might have gone in Round 1 if we re-drafted a year ago. And Lattimore is one of the league’s best corners at just 24 years old.

play

Michael DiRocco breaks down why he chose Dak Prescott over other available QBs, as well as his reasons for taking Danielle Hunter and Marshon Lattimore in the Jaguars’ NFL Nation re-draft.

Drafted by Jake Trotter, Browns reporter

Round 1 (10): Nick Bosa, DE
Round 2 (55): Justin Herbert, QB
Round 3 (74): Chris Godwin, WR
Round 4 (119): Jarvis Landry, WR

My strategy was to operate against the grain of simply taking the best QB available, and I got the league’s best young defender in Bosa. I assumed I’d still be able to get a proven QB starter with my second pick, but given what was left, I opted to go with highest upside possible. Yes, the success of my draft will hinge on Herbert developing into a franchise-caliber quarterback within the five-year window. But at some point, you have to roll the dice on a QB, and Herbert has an elite skill set.

My approach then shifted to getting Herbert help on his timeline, and that includes Godwin, still just 24. I probably should’ve taken a young left tackle like Andrew Thomas or Jedrick Wills Jr. with my final pick, but Landry is a Pro Bowler and another asset for Herbert. — Trotter

Stat to know: Bosa was easily the league’s best rookie in ESPN’s pass rush win rate, beating his block within 2.5 seconds on 21.8% of his pass rushes. And counting on the unproven Herbert is a little easier to do when you’re the only team in the exercise with two of the league’s top 10 in receiving yards last year. Godwin was one of two players (Michael Thomas) with 1,300-plus and nine-plus receiving TDs.

Mike Clay’s draft grade: Tier 4. I don’t love passing on QB at 10th overall, but Bosa is a defensive cornerstone. Herbert is a complete lottery ticket, and the QB situation scares me. At least he’ll have weapons.

Drafted by Rich Cimini, Jets reporter

Round 1 (11): Carson Wentz, QB
Round 2 (54): Odell Beckham Jr., WR
Round 3 (75): Bradley Chubb, OLB
Round 4 (118): Zack Martin, G

I didn’t want to build a one-year wonder. All four picks are under the age of 30, and I made the seemingly ridiculous decision to take Wentz, 27, over Aaron Rodgers, 36, with the 11th overall pick. I’m thinking long term here, folks, and I think I picked up four blue-chip talents in the prime of their careers.

Admittedly, there are durability concerns with Wentz, Beckham and Chubb, but the risk-reward factor was too good to ignore. When all three are healthy, they can be among the best at their respective positions. People tend to forget about Chubb because he missed most of last season because of a knee injury, but he’s the same player who exploded for 12 sacks as a rookie. As for Martin, he doesn’t play a so-called premium position, but we’re talking about the best guard in the sport and a future Hall of Famer. I like my team. — Cimini

Stat to know: Wentz averaged 299.8 yards per game over Weeks 14-17 last year, throwing seven touchdowns and zero interceptions — and his Eagles were led in receptions in that stretch by Boston Scott, Greg Ward Jr. and Dallas Goedert. Beckham and his five career 1,000-yard seasons represent a significant talent upgrade.

Mike Clay’s draft grade: Tier 3. Well done grabbing a franchise QB in Wentz at 11, and we know OBJ has elite upside. It just felt way too early on Chubb.

Drafted by Paul Gutierrez, Raiders reporter

Round 1 (12): Aaron Rodgers, QB
Round 2 (53): Von Miller, OLB
Round 3 (76): Josh Jacobs, RB
Round 4 (117): Henry Ruggs III, WR

Let’s make right what once went wrong, shall we? The Raiders coulda, shoulda, woulda drafted Rodgers way back in 2005 but went with speedy cornerback Fabian Washington instead. Now a grizzled vet and a future Hall of Famer, Rodgers has a massive chip on his shoulder with the Packers having drafted Jordan Love, and Jon Gruden loves vets with chips — and ‘ships. Miller, a veteran presence on defense who has terrorized the Raiders for nine years, checks another box.

Filling out this roster with youth and speed is the yin to the vet yang, so Jacobs and Ruggs — the fastest man in the 2020 draft — make for a balanced roster. — Gutierrez

Stat to know: Miller’s sack total was “only” 8.0 last year, the first time he has had less than 10 sacks in a full season. Since entering the league in 2011, Miller has more double-digit-sack seasons (seven) than the Raiders as a team (four).

Mike Clay’s draft grade: Tier 4. Rodgers might not be what he used to be, but I can’t fault taking him at No. 12. And Miller still has something left at age 31. But while Jacobs was great as a rookie, going RB is bold, especially one who hasn’t done much as a receiver. And I think there were proven star WRs available when Ruggs was picked.

Drafted by Mike Wells, Colts reporter

Round 1 (13): Joe Burrow, QB
Round 2 (52): Zach Ertz, TE
Round 3 (77): Quenton Nelson, G
Round 4 (116): Darius Leonard, ILB

The Colts are known for selecting franchise quarterbacks (Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck, anyone?). Now it’s Burrow’s turn. Honestly, it was a little surprising that Burrow was still on the board at No. 13.

Coach Frank Reich values tight ends in his offense, and Ertz is one of the best in the NFL, giving Burrow a go-to target. Who better to provide nastiness for the entire team than Nelson, who arguably was the best overall player from the 2018 draft? Franchise quarterback. Big target for said QB. Anchor on the offensive line. And then an anchor on defense with Leonard, who led the NFL in tackles as a rookie in 2018 and was a Pro Bowler in 2019. The foundation is set in Indianapolis. — Wells

Stat to know: Indy hangs on to the crown jewels of its 2018 draft class in Nelson and Leonard. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the two were the second pair of rookie teammates to each make first-team All-Pro, joining Dick Butkus and Gale Sayers of the 1965 Bears.

Mike Clay’s draft grade: Tier 2. There were safer QB targets at No. 13, but I can appreciate selecting an age-23 potential franchise QB in Burrow. Ertz is a safe pick, and hometown heroes Nelson and Leonard will be difference-makers for a long time.

Drafted by Jenna Laine, Buccaneers reporter

Round 1 (14): Tom Brady, QB
Round 2 (51): Alvin Kamara, RB
Round 3 (78): Chris Jones, DT
Round 4 (115): Kenny Golladay, WR

I wanted a proven QB versus potential, and I chose Brady because of his track record, his 45 career game-winning drives and longevity — even at 42, he has missed fewer games than Ben Roethlisberger or Matthew Stafford. I also trust his “clutch” gene more than Matt Ryan. But in taking Brady, I know my window to win will be much smaller than other teams, possibly as small as two years.

Kamara was the third-best non-QB offensive player on my board, so I was thrilled to land him. He can line up anywhere on the field and can help Brady in the screen game. I like that Jones can move all across the defensive line, and his 69 wins against double-teams over the past four seasons puts him second only to Aaron Donald in the NFL, according to ESPN pass-rush metrics powered by NFL Next Gen Stats. Golladay has back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, so I consider him terrific value in the fourth round. — Laine

Stat to know: The Buccaneers drafted everything to help a soon-to-be 43-year-old quarterback. Since coming into the league in 2017, Kamara ranks third in scrimmage touchdowns (37) and fifth in scrimmage yards (4,476). And last season, Golladay had the most catches (16) and tied for the most touchdown catches (five) on throws 20 yards downfield.

Mike Clay’s draft grade: Tier 1. Brady on the Bucs? Pfft. Like that would ever happen. I don’t like the Round 2 running back, but at least Kamara is a receiving weapon, too. Jones is an absolute steal in Round 3, and Golladay a strong late find.

play

Jay Williams and Rob Ninkovich debate how close Tom Brady could be to surpassing Michael Jordan for greatest athlete of all time.

Drafted by Jeff Legwold, Broncos reporter

Round 1 (15): Drew Lock, QB
Round 2 (50): Travis Kelce, TE
Round 3 (79): Isaiah Simmons, ILB
Round 4 (114): Courtland Sutton, WR

Working off the five-year window, the line between current production and youth with room to grow had to be considered with the selections. The quarterbacks came off the board quickly with 10 already gone, so I made my biggest gamble on potential with Lock.

I had gone in thinking quarterback, edge rusher and cornerback, and I gave a long look at Von Miller with my second pick. But in the everyday NFL world, edge rushers often develop the most quickly, so that was a position that could be addressed later in a full-team build. I decided to get a little more offense with Kelce instead. I might have gotten a little impatient there, and if we redid it, I would lean defense in the second round. Defensive versatility came in the third with Simmons, the top player on my 2020 draft board, and I think Sutton was a Round 4 steal. — Legwold

Stat to know: Kelce and Sutton serve as a strong inside-outside tandem. Kelce’s 69 catches between the painted numbers trailed only DeAndre Hopkins and Michael Thomas in 2019. Sutton averaged just under 17 yards per catch on targets outside the numbers, which ranked 10th. The duo could help justify the presence of Lock, who was selected before Matt Ryan and Kyler Murray.

Mike Clay’s draft grade: Tier 4. Legwold showed his faith in Broncos GM John Elway by taking Lock over safer QB options and then Sutton in Round 4. Kelce is a good, safe pick at No. 50. Simmons is risky, but there’s obviously big upside for the 2020 first-rounder.

Drafted by Vaughn McClure, Falcons reporter

Round 1 (16): Matt Ryan, QB
Round 2 (49): Cameron Jordan, DE
Round 3 (80): CeeDee Lamb, WR
Round 4 (113): Jeff Okudah, CB

Eleven quarterbacks were drafted before my selection, and I’m one of those who believe Ryan is still a top-10 quarterback despite his age. You need your franchise QB, and he gives you almost a 70% completion rate and durability (one missed game over the past 10 seasons).

A consistent pass rush is also a must, and Jordan has averaged 13.5 sacks over the past three seasons. Pressure up front then needs to be coupled with great coverage, and all signs point to Okudah being a shutdown corner for years to come. Lastly, one NFL executive said Lamb will be a Pro Bowl receiver this year. As a rookie. So imagine how bright his future is. — McClure

Stat to know: The Falcons get a big boost on defense with the addition of Jordan, who has the third-most sacks over the past three seasons (40.5). Atlanta ranks 27th in sack rate over that same period (5.6%).

Mike Clay’s draft grade: Tier 3. Ryan, 35, figures to have a few years left, so getting him 16th overall is a strong value. And the underrated Jordan is a nice get, too. But Lamb and Okudah went before many proven stars at their positions.

Drafted by Todd Archer, Cowboys reporter

Round 1 (17): Kyler Murray, QB
Round 2 (48): Tyron Smith, OT
Round 3 (81): Keenan Allen, WR
Round 4 (112): Maxx Crosby, DE

I obviously went with the “best available” strategy since I was the last person to draft a QB. I considered Kirk Cousins in Round 2, but since 17 QBs were taken before I even made my first pick, I never felt like there would be a major drop-off if I waited. I’m happy with Rivers in the short term while I develop a future replacement — maybe even Taysom Hill.

Meanwhile, I landed a top-10 overall talent in Mack at No. 24 and a steal in Adams at No. 88. My toughest choice was Ramczyk at No. 41 over fellow OTs like Tyron Smith, Laremy Tunsil and Terron Armstead. But Ramczyk is obviously a great fit with the Saints, just turned 26 and is widely regarded as the league’s top right tackle. And we could move him back to his college position of LT if needed. — Triplett

Stat to know: The passing game was a priority on both sides of the ball. Mack is one of two players since 2014 with 60.0 sacks and 20 forced fumbles (Chandler Jones). Last season, Adams had the second-best completion percentage relative to expectation when the nearest defender, trailing only Eddie Jackson, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. And Adams has 12.0 career sacks, which is most among all defensive backs over the past five seasons (Adams debuted in 2017).

Mike Clay’s draft grade: Tier 3. Mack is great, but also 29 years old and not a QB. That’s a risky move at No. 24. I like the Ramczyk and Adams picks, and Rivers is a great short-term QB find at No. 105.

Drafted by Courtney Cronin, Vikings reporter

Round 1 (25): Ryan Tannehill, QB
Round 2 (40): Davante Adams, WR
Round 3 (89): Arik Armstead, DE
Round 4 (104): Harrison Smith, S

I grabbed Tannehill, who I see as a top-15 QB talent, with my first-round selection and built around him. The 2019 season was the best of Tannehill’s career, and I believe bringing a true No. 1 receiver like Adams into the mix will allow him to carry over that success for the next three to five years. Adams has the second-most receiving touchdowns (28) over the past three seasons and shows up when it counts the most, with 45 catches for 687 yards and six touchdowns in eight playoff games.

The value I got for a pass-rusher (another key part of a Super Bowl team) in the third round, when I landed Armstead coming off a 10-sack breakout season, made me feel like I was building a solid, balanced team. I chose Smith with my wild-card pick because when a future Hall of Famer is available, you take him, especially one who makes plays all over the defense. According to ESPN Stats & Information, he’s the only player in the league with 20-plus interceptions (23) and 10-plus sacks (13) since 2012. — Cronin

Stat to know: Adams is Tannehill’s only above-average skill player, a spot in which he’s familiar. Over the past two years, Adams is one of six wideouts who have accounted for over one-quarter of their team’s targets, joining Michael Thomas, DeAndre Hopkins, Jarvis Landry, Keenan Allen and Julio Jones.

Mike Clay’s draft grade: Tier 3. Cronin is betting that she’ll get the Tannehill of 2019. We’ll see. But Adams, Armstead and Smith were good, safe picks.

Drafted by Sarah Barshop, Texans reporter

Round 1 (26): DeAndre Hopkins, WR
Round 2 (39): Saquon Barkley, RB
Round 3 (90): Derek Carr, QB
Round 4 (103): Tyrann Mathieu, S

No elite quarterback available at No. 26? No problem. The player I took instead only needs an average one to be an All-Pro. Hopkins is in his prime and has put up huge numbers with the likes of Brian Hoyer, Brock Osweiler and Tom Savage throwing him the ball.

I was shocked to see Barkley on the board for my next pick, so I opted to go for the best running back-wide receiver combo in the league. Carr is coming off a strong season without elite playmakers to throw to, so he was an easy third-round pick. I wanted J.J. Watt but couldn’t risk missing out on the best of the remaining quarterbacks. Besides, Mathieu — who was voted by his teammates as the MVP of the reigning Super Bowl champions — is an ideal leader and playmaker to lead the defense. — Barshop

Stat to know: The non-O’Brien Texans welcome back Hopkins and pair him with Barkley, both of whom rank third at their positions in scrimmage yards since 2018. And Carr quietly set career highs in Total QBR and yards per attempt last season and would have the two best weapons of his career.

Mike Clay’s draft grade: Tier 2. I am shocked Barshop took Hopkins over David Johnson. Wait, no I’m not. Speaking of running backs, I would’ve passed on one in the second round, but at least it’s the young, dynamic Barkley. Carr was a strong value, and Mathieu’s versatility is a terrific get.

play

DeAndre Hopkins joins Jalen & Jacoby to rank himself against the elite wide receivers in the NFL like Michael Thomas and Julio Jones.

Drafted by Brady Henderson, Seahawks reporter

Round 1 (27): Mike Evans, WR
Round 2 (38): Jalen Ramsey, CB
Round 3 (91): Ben Roethlisberger, QB
Round 4 (102): DeMarcus Lawrence, DE

Eighteen quarterbacks were already taken, and I went into the draft prioritizing a wide receiver or left tackle as my non-QB offensive player. Evans was the choice at No. 27 because he’s younger than Julio Jones and more trustworthy than Tyreek Hill.

Jared Goff was tempting at No. 38, but I went with Ramsey with the hopes that Roethlisberger would still be there for my third pick. He was. My thinking: The difference between Goff and Roethlisberger is smaller than the difference between Ramsey — arguably the NFL’s top cornerback — and any defenders who would be available at No. 91. It was a toss-up between Lawrence and Frank Clark for my final pick, but I went Lawrence because of his superior pass rush win rate. — Henderson

Stat to know: What better way for Roethlisberger to get his career going again after missing all but two games last season than throwing the ball to someone like Evans, who joined Randy Moss as the only players with 1,000 receiving yards in each of their first six seasons.

Mike Clay’s draft grade: Tier 2. Evans is a difference-maker but a bit bold of a pick in Round 1. Landing Big Ben in Round 3 was a nice save, while Ramsey and Lawrence are tremendous gets on defense.

Drafted by Jamison Hensley, Ravens reporter

Round 1 (28): Matthew Stafford, QB
Round 2 (37): Julio Jones, WR
Round 3 (92): J.J. Watt, DE
Round 4 (101): Stefon Diggs, WR

As one team official said long ago, you need a strong-armed quarterback to compete in the AFC North. Stafford was too obvious. The only other worthy quarterbacks available were either too young (Tua Tagovailoa) or too risky because of health (Cam Newton).

The Ravens’ mindset is to take a running back next, but Jones was sitting there at the No. 37 overall pick. As Baltimore showed time and time again in the 2020 NFL draft, you take the best player available. The Ravens have traditionally had vocal leaders on defense, so it made perfect sense to take someone like J.J. Watt. For the wild-card spot, the targets were running back Nick Chubb and kicker Justin Tucker. But both were selected in the five picks before I was on the clock. The top player left at the No. 101 pick, in my opinion, was Diggs. — Hensley

Stat to know: Stafford ranks sixth in passing TDs over his career (237), but his teams have ranked in the top 12 in scoring defense only once. Enter Watt, whose Texans defenses have ranked in the top 12 in scoring defense in six of his nine career seasons.

Mike Clay’s draft grade: Tier 2. Stafford was one of the steals of the draft, as the 32-year-old remains an above-average starter. This team will have a short window with Jones and Watt nearing the end of their primes. Will Diggs dig being second in line at WR?

Drafted by Turron Davenport, Titans reporter

Round 1 (29): Tyreek Hill, WR
Round 2 (36): Cam Newton, QB
Round 3 (93): Fletcher Cox, DT
Round 4 (100): Jaire Alexander, CB

How can I generate chunk plays through the air and keep opposing teams from doing the same? On offense, Hill is a receiver who can score any time he touches the ball and one of the NFL’s best deep threats. To further take advantage of that, I got Newton because of his downfield accuracy. The current real-life free agent can also extend plays to give Hill even more time to break free from coverage.

Defensively, I had Cox targeted, figuring he’d drop because of his sack numbers. He’s a disruptive player who impacts the quarterback and consistently stops running plays behind the line of scrimmage. Getting a top-level coverage corner like Alexander to match up with opposing WRs makes the pass defense complete. — Davenport

Stat to know: Could Hill’s speed turn Newton back into Superman? Hill has 43 catches of at least 30 yards since entering the league in 2016, the most in that span. Newton’s average pass traveled 10.3 air yards in his 2015 MVP campaign, third highest in the NFL. But that dipped to a career-low 7.0 air yards per attempt in 2018, which ranked 30th.

Mike Clay’s draft grade: Tier 3. Davenport landed a game-changer in Hill at No. 29 and quickly found him a QB (albeit a risky one) in Newton a few picks later. Cox and Alexander are both defensive disruptors.

play

Domonique Foxworth explains why Cam Newton hasn’t lived up to expectations during the nine years he has been in the NFL.

Drafted by Rob Demovsky, Packers reporter

Round 1 (30): Tua Tagovailoa, QB
Round 2 (35): David Bakhtiari, OT
Round 3 (94): Darius Slay, CB
Round 4 (99): Justin Tucker, K

Picking at No. 30 wasn’t ideal for finding an established quarterback who’s better than average. But if you’re running the Packers, you better have a quarterback who can keep the franchise relevant. The ceiling is higher for Tagovailoa than any of the experienced guys who were still available. And you better protect him with an All-Pro tackle (yes, Bakhtiari is a left tackle and Tua is left-handed, so he wouldn’t necessarily be protecting his blind side, but he’s elite). You’d love a pass-rusher, too, but the surefire disruptors were gone by Round 3. A shutdown corner is next best in terms of importance, and I got that in Slay.

As for the kicker, why the heck not if you can get the best one in the league? The leaguewide field goal percentage last season was 81.6% (the lowest since 2009, according to ESPN Stats & Information), so having a kicker who’s coming off a 96.6% season (28- of-29) might win a game or two. Besides, it’s my team, and I’ll do what I want! — Demovsky

Stat to know: Keeping Tagovailoa upright is priority No. 1, and Bakhtiari will help a lot. He was the best pass-blocking offensive tackle in the NFL, according to ESPN’s pass block win rate, sustaining 96% of his pass blocks for at least 2.5 seconds.

Mike Clay’s draft grade: Tier 2. Tua was arguably as good as Burrow pre-injury, so landing a 22-year-old potential star QB at No. 30 is an excellent value. Demovsky then protects him with one of the best in Bakhtiari, adds a top CB in Slay and then takes … a kicker?

Drafted by Nick Wagoner, 49ers reporter

Round 1 (31): George Kittle, TE
Round 2 (34): Myles Garrett, DE
Round 3 (95): Jameis Winston, QB
Round 4 (98): Grady Jarrett, DT

With the 31st pick, I planned to wait on QB, and I wanted either the best player at a lesser position where there’s a sizable drop-off or someone who is elite at a premium position. I believe I checked each box with Kittle and Garrett, respectively.

I would have waited to take Winston with my final pick, but Kansas City still needed a quarterback, and he was the clear best option at that point. Finally, I would have preferred a top corner with my last selection, but Jarrett is one of the most underrated players in the league, and I liked him better than any of the corner options available. So I figured I’d give Garrett a running mate to get after quarterbacks. — Wagoner

Stat to know: Over the past two seasons, Kittle’s 2,430 receiving yards trail only Travis Kelce among tight ends. That should help Winston, who in that same span has completed 64% of his passes to tight ends, fourth worst of any quarterback with at least 100 such throws. Meanwhile, the “Arrett Brothers” should provide pressure on the quarterback. Last season, Jarrett was second in pass rush win rate among interior defenders, while Garrett was fourth off the edge.

Mike Clay’s draft grade: Tier 1. Kittle and Garrett are arguably the best at their respective positions, Winston is a great QB flier at No. 95 and Jarrett is an elite DT. I like it a lot!

Drafted by Adam Teicher, Chiefs reporter

Round 1 (32): Stephon Gilmore, CB
Round 2 (33): Dalvin Cook, RB
Round 3 (96): Nick Chubb, RB
Round 4 (97): Tyrod Taylor, QB

I was guided by the “best player available” philosophy throughout and was pleasantly surprised at the availability of the NFL’s top cornerback in Gilmore and a couple of versatile backs in Cook and Chubb. But having seen how the draft unfolded, I made a mistake in waiting until my second wave of back-to-back picks to get my quarterback.

I anticipated a better selection of QBs being available when I passed the first time around, and I was wrong. Instead of Cook, I should have gone for a veteran like Kirk Cousins, Derek Carr or Jared Goff, or even a younger player like Justin Herbert or Jarrett Stidham. But now I’m stuck with a journeyman at the game’s most important position, and I’m afraid I’m doomed to a lowly record and a much higher draft pick next year. — Teicher

Stat to know: Virtually the opposite of the real-life Chiefs, this Kansas City team will be run-heavy. It features a backfield with last year’s second-ranked (Chubb) and seventh-ranked (Cook) rushers in rushing yards per game. And when he was a starter from 2015 to ’17, Taylor’s 1,575 rushing yards and 14 rushing TDs trailed only Cam Newton among QBs.

Mike Clay’s draft grade: Tier 4. Starting with the league’s best corner was great, but back-to-back running backs and a 30-year-old borderline backup QB is problematic.

ALL 128 PICKS OF THE RE-DRAFT

Round 1

1. Cincinnati: Patrick Mahomes, QB
2. Washington: Russell Wilson, QB
3. Detroit: Lamar Jackson, QB
4. N.Y. Giants: Deshaun Watson, QB
5. Miami: Aaron Donald, DT
6. L.A. Chargers: Ronnie Stanley, OT
7. Carolina: Joey Bosa, DE
8. Arizona: Drew Brees, QB
9. Jacksonville: Dak Prescott, QB
10. Cleveland: Nick Bosa, DE
11. N.Y. Jets: Carson Wentz, QB
12. Las Vegas: Aaron Rodgers, QB
13. Indianapolis: Joe Burrow, QB
14. Tampa Bay: Tom Brady, QB
15. Denver: Drew Lock, QB
16. Atlanta: Matt Ryan, QB
17. Dallas: Kyler Murray, QB
18. Pittsburgh: Teddy Bridgewater, QB
19. Chicago: Jimmy Garoppolo, QB
20. L.A. Rams: Christian McCaffrey, RB
21. Philadelphia: Baker Mayfield, QB
22. Buffalo: Michael Thomas, WR
23. New England: Sam Darnold, QB
24. New Orleans: Khalil Mack, OLB
25. Minnesota: Ryan Tannehill, QB
26. Houston: DeAndre Hopkins, WR
27. Seattle: Mike Evans, WR
28. Baltimore: Matthew Stafford, QB
29. Tennessee: Tyreek Hill, WR
30. Green Bay: Tua Tagovailoa, QB
31. San Francisco: George Kittle, TE
32. Kansas City: Stephon Gilmore, CB

Round 2

97. Kansas City: Tyrod Taylor, QB
98. San Francisco: Grady Jarrett, DT
99. Green Bay: Justin Tucker, K
100. Tennessee: Jaire Alexander, CB
101. Baltimore: Stefon Diggs, WR
102. Seattle: DeMarcus Lawrence, DE
103. Houston: Tyrann Mathieu, S
104. Minnesota: Harrison Smith, S
105. New Orleans: Philip Rivers, QB
106. New England: Frank Clark, DE
107. Buffalo: Micah Hyde, S
108. Philadelphia: A.J. Brown, WR
109. L.A. Rams: Dante Fowler Jr., DE
110. Chicago: Eddie Jackson, S
111. Pittsburgh: DK Metcalf, WR
112. Dallas: Maxx Crosby, DE
113. Atlanta: Jeff Okudah, CB
114. Denver: Courtland Sutton, WR
115. Tampa Bay: Kenny Golladay, WR
116. Indianapolis: Darius Leonard, ILB
117. Las Vegas: Henry Ruggs III, WR
118. N.Y. Jets: Zack Martin, G
119. Cleveland: Jarvis Landry, WR
120. Jacksonville: Marshon Lattimore, CB
121. Arizona: Patrick Peterson, CB
122. Carolina: Jedrick Wills Jr., OT
123. L.A. Chargers: Brandon Brooks, G
124. Miami: Kevin Byard, S
125. N.Y. Giants: Allen Robinson II, WR
126. Detroit: DJ Moore, WR
127. Washington: Terry McLaurin, WR
128. Cincinnati: Tyler Lockett, WR