Winners

Pittsburgh Steelers

For Pittsburgh, this draft class has been a throwback in the finest sense of the word. The Steelers selected center Zack Frazier on Thursday in order to double dip along the offensive line after selecting offensive tackle Troy Fautanu. He should be a brawler who finds a quick solution to an urgent issue because he was a four-time state wrestling champion in high school. With his lengthy speed making him an especially appealing weapon for Russell Wilson, Roman Wilson might be the latest in a long series of Day 2 wide receiver diamonds for the team. Linebacker Payton Wilson, who won the Bednarik Award, may struggle to stay on the field after injury worries forced him to sit out the entire third round, but if he can get past his past issues, he may be a dynamic player.

Jim Harbaugh

By moving up to No. 34 to acquire Georgia’s Ladd McConkey, a crisp route runner who stands out from the competition with his ability to create separation, he swiftly allayed concerns regarding the Bolts’ receiving corps. The Chargers then arranged for linebacker Junior Colson to reunite with his home state of Michigan in Round 3, giving Colson an inside presence that he had long needed. Very strong beginning for Harbaugh’s Los Angeles first draft class.

Michigan football

For all former Wolverines, Friday was a good day. On that day, six players from the reigning champions were chosen. Wilson, Colson, running back Blake Corum (Los Angeles Rams), offensive guard Zak Zinter, and defensive tackle Kris Jenkins (Cincinnati Bengals) opened the proceedings in the second and third quarters, respectively. Wilson, Corum, and Zinter were also selected one after the other. Georgia’s record of having 15 players taken in a single class for the NFL draft may be broken by the institution on Saturday. It’s a nice coincidence that Detroit may experience this as well.

Vic Fangio

When Howie Roseman selected Toledo covering ace Quinyon Mitchell in the first round of the draft to break the team’s first-round cornerback drought, things were already going well for the new defensive coordinator of the Philadelphia Eagles. Roseman strengthened the secondary once further on Friday by adding Cooper DeJean of Iowa, a remarkably athletic cornerback with versatility in covering schemes. Jalyx Hunt, a young but talented Houston Christian pass rusher who can sit and develop behind Bryce Huff and others, was selected by him in the third round. Fangio hasn’t got much more to ask for in this draft in terms of staffing up to help this unit turn the page.

Jeff Hafley

The coordinator and former Boston College coach hopes to leave his mark on the Green Bay Packers defense by pursuing a more active effort that looks for turnovers. Both Georgia safety Javon Bullard and Texas A&M linebacker Edgerrin Cooper, who were both taken in the second round, have little trouble rallying to the ball. The two ought to play important roles from the start in assisting Hafley in bringing in a new era with his plan.

Florida State

Keon Coleman, a wide receiver selected by the Buffalo Bills in the second round, turned out to be a positive indication for the Seminoles. By night’s end, four more Florida State items would be seized. On the Rams, defensive end Jared Verse, a first-round selection, reunited with defensive tackle Braden Fiske. A number of other important players from the 13-1 team from the previous year, such as quarterback Jordan Travis, tight end Jaheim Bell, and wide receiver Johnny Wilson, should find employment on Saturday.

‘The YAC King’

Malachi Corley, a wide receiver for Western Kentucky, got the moniker because of his exceptional ability to gain yards after the catch. Still, he wasn’t going to fit into every scheme as a 5-11, 207-pound pass catcher who hadn’t run a full range of routes in his career. Whatever. At the start of the third round, Corley was selected by the New York Jets, who will use him as a safety valve for Aaron Rodgers as he plays in the underneath zones. Early on, he might get a consistent number of targets if he can work his way around Aaron Rodgers’ exacting approach to integrating rookies into an offense.

Ezekiel Elliott

The Cowboys missed the opportunity to pick up a primary ball carrier amid rumors that they would be getting back together with their three-time Pro Bowl running back. Jerry Jones, the team’s owner, stated that the team may still decide to go ahead in the selection and select a back. However, Dallas won’t pick again until the fifth round, which may further reduce the club’s possibilities. According to ESPN, Jones told reporters on Friday night, “(W)e also are keenly interested in seeing what the future might look like with Zeke.” For a 28-year-old who finished the previous season with a career-low 3.5 yards per carry, there isn’t a better opportunity.

Losers

Arizona Cardinals

With seven picks in the top 90, Monti Ossenfort and company had the most of any club since the Cowboys’ 1991 class. So why does it seem like the Cardinals left with so little foundation? With James Conner around, Florida State running back Trey Benson may be considered a bit of a luxury. Breakout target Trey McBride has made tight end one of the few safe spots on this roster, but that didn’t stop the Cardinals from acquiring Illinois’ Tip Reiman, whose most noteworthy football-related accomplishment to date is persuading people at the NFL scouting combine that he doesn’t believe birds are real. The squad still appears to be behind the rest of the NFL, even if Marvin Harrison Jr. could quickly improve the aerial assault. This is especially true at a time when the team should have had a complete overhaul.

Spencer Rattler

After a record-tying six signal-callers were selected in the first round, the quarterback market appears to have completely dried up as not a single passer was selected in the next two rounds. Rattler, a product of South Carolina, is left in a difficult situation as the next player in line at the position. He appeared to have a good chance of going in the third round. As of Saturday, he’s still waiting, so it’s more probable that people are viewing him as a developing possibility than as someone who would be ready to start in a year or two. Furthermore, it’s unclear which teams would be interested in such a project.

Jerry Jones

Jones’s affection for Texas running back Jonathan Brooks—who was still undrafted—became evident after the first round. According to ESPN’s Todd Archer, Jones remarked of Brooks, “I thought it was the best interview that I ever had with a player in my thirty years.” “He is exceptional. He’s also a fantastic football player. We got him really, really high. He’s also a skilled player. Unfortunately for Jones, Brooks became the first ball carrier selected in the draft when the Carolina Panthers selected him at No. 46. Perhaps Jones was just playing games. However, the Cowboys may now have to choose between Purdue’s Tyrone Tracy Jr., Kentucky’s Ray Davis, and Notre Dame’s Audric Estime as their next best running back.

New England Patriots

Eliot Wolf, the NFL scouting combine director of scouting, declared his goal to “weaponize the offense.” Even after Saturday, it doesn’t appear like Drake Maye, the third overall pick and rookie quarterback, will have much firepower at his disposal. Ja’Lynn Polk, a second-round pick, isn’t the most explosive wide receiver, and offensive lineman Caedan Wallace might struggle to contain the left side. Maye may find himself playing a lot of the heroball that got him into trouble at North Carolina out of necessity.