Eleven months after the 2018 NFL draft, what stands out now is that the two teams with the most draft capital absolutely nailed their classes. Helped by the immediate impact of their rookies, the Browns and Colts took big leaps forward in 2018 -- the Colts to the playoffs, the Browns to respectability -- and are now the favorites to win their respective divisions in 2019. That shows you what can happen when you hit on a rookie class, just like the Saints did in 2017.
It's time for my annual tradition of evaluating last year's draft, tearing up my grades that come out the night the draft ends and starting from scratch based on how each rookie performed in Year 1. As a reminder: The updated grades are just a fun exercise in seeing how the draft class appears to be shaping up. It's a check to see how players are coming along. A few parameters:
I look at first-year impact from the rookie class based on relative value -- contributing to a winner is worth more than piling up reps for a bad team.
I included rookie undrafted free agents added after the draft, as those are an important part of the process.
I'm also taking into account all the trades from before and during the draft and how those look a year later.
We'll start with the highest-graded class and go in order of best to worst grades, with teams in alphabetical order for grades that are the same. Click the links below to go directly to a team:
Cleveland Browns
Post-draft grade: B-
Simply put, GM John Dorsey's first draft in charge of the Browns was fantastic. Quarterback Baker Mayfield brought a different energy to Cleveland football from the time he was drafted No. 1, and he was fantastic on the field when he took over, breaking the rookie record for touchdown passes (27) while starting 13 games. Dorsey got his guy, and there's no doubt the Browns are ascending.
Elsewhere, I questioned the pick of cornerback Denzel Ward over pass-rusher Bradley Chubb at No. 4, but Ward became the team's top cornerback from Day 1 and he had a Pro Bowl season. Nick Chubb took over as the team's starting running back and forced the team to trade away Carlos Hyde. Antonio Callaway looks like a steal in the fourth round, as the receiver with off-field issues going into the draft had 43 catches and five touchdowns as a rookie. He's going to be a deep-ball threat for years to come. Linebacker Genard Avery is another likely 2019 starter. Undrafted left tackle Desmond Harrison began the season as the starter, although he was benched midseason. Harrison could be the swing tackle going forward. Austin Corbett didn't play much as a rookie, but he's expected to take over one of the starting guard spots in 2019.
Again, this is a tremendous class, and the Browns are for real. I love what they've done this offseason, too, and there will be several starters from this rookie class.
New grade: A
Indianapolis Colts
Post-draft grade: B+
Who saw the Colts' 2018 season coming? Not me. To go from 4-12 to 10-6 with a playoff win is just a fantastic accomplishment, and this draft by GM Chris Ballard saw several instant-impact players who helped lead the way. (OK, Andrew Luck returning to form was a big reason, too.)
Top pick Quenton Nelson was phenomenal, making the All-Pro team at left guard and playing 100 percent of the Colts' offensive snaps. Braden Smith took over at right tackle and made 13 solid starts. Getting middle linebacker Darius Leonard at the top of Round 2 might have been the steal of the draft, as he led the NFL in tackles (163) and also had seven sacks, four forced fumbles and two picks. He totally changed the defense as a rookie and is already the leader of the unit. Defensive end Kemoko Turay had four sacks as a rotational edge rusher. Running backs Nyheim Hines and Jordan Wilkins pitched in and were part of the reason Ballard stayed out of the Le'Veon Bell free-agency sweepstakes despite having a ton of cap space.
This is a fantastic draft from Ballard, and that's not even mentioning what the team thinks of wideout Deon Cain, a sixth-round pick who flashed in training camp before tearing his ACL. This is a well-deserved "A," and Ballard and the Colts have three top-60 picks in the 2019 draft to try to put them over the top.
New grade: A
Baltimore Ravens
Post-draft grade: B+
We saw the positives and negatives from rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson, who took over for Joe Flacco late in the year and led Baltimore back to the playoffs. He's an elite athlete and runner, and there were times when he befuddled defensive coordinators. He hit some big throws as John Harbaugh & Co. changed their offense to play to the rookie's strengths. But Jackson has to improve as a passer -- he completed just 58.2 percent of his throws -- to reach his ceiling because he took far too many hits. He can't keep running 20 times a game if he wants to stay on the field.
The good news is that he'll get a full offseason as the unquestioned No. 1 QB because Baltimore traded Flacco. If you get your starting quarterback -- and feel good about him -- that's a successful draft. And don't discount the Ravens trading into the end of the first round to get that fifth-year option on Jackson's contract. That's huge for a team that has felt the effects of the salary cap this offseason.
The two rookies from Oklahoma -- tight end Mark Andrews and right tackle Orlando Brown -- are going to be starters, and the team feels good about first-rounder Hayden Hurst, although he disappointed in Year 1. Linebacker Kenny Young could see the field much more with C.J. Mosley gone. Baltimore also got contributions from undrafted rookies Chris Board (linebacker) and Gus Edwards (running back), although Edwards' spot on the depth chart isn't secure going forward.
Because of how good the rookie classes looked in Indianapolis, Cleveland and Denver, this Ravens draft -- GM Ozzie Newsome's last -- went a little under the radar. There are some really good pieces here, though.
New grade: A-
Buffalo Bills
Post-draft grade: A
This class is going to begin and end with what you think of quarterback Josh Allen, who was thrown into the fire in the middle of Week 1 after Nathan Peterman was benched. I said several times before the draft that Allen, my top-ranked QB, needed time. He needed to catch up to the speed of the NFL game and just watch for a while. Instead he had to play immediately, and the results were predictable. He completed only 52.2 percent of his passes. He threw more interceptions (12) than touchdown passes (10). He missed far too many throws.
Yet, there were signs of progress down the stretch. He showed off his athleticism as a fantastic runner, putting up 631 yards and eight touchdowns. He developed a deep-ball connection with undrafted rookie Robert Foster. He gave Bills fans hope. Just watch the tape in that road blowout win over the Vikings. I'm a believer in Allen's talent, and Buffalo is making some moves this offseason to help him out.
Buffalo predictably took a step back in 2018 -- from a 9-7 playoff team in 2017 to 6-10 -- but you can't blame Allen and the rookie class for the drop. Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, the other first-rounder GM Brandon Beane traded up for, had a fantastic season, with 121 tackles, two sacks, two interceptions and two forced fumbles. Defensive tackle Harrison Phillips (35 tackles), guard Wyatt Teller (seven starts) and cornerback Taron Johnson (41 tackles) are going to be big contributors in 2019 and beyond. I mentioned Foster, but Buffalo also got seven starts and 37 tackles from undrafted corner Levi Wallace, so that's two former Alabama players who went undrafted and made an impact.
Even if they don't get back to the playoffs in 2019, there is promise here. This class provides a strong foundation on which to build, just as long as the offense catches up to the defense.
New grade: A-
Denver Broncos
Post-draft grade: B+
GM John Elway really needed a strong 2018 draft after a few down years. And although it wasn't enough to get the Broncos back to the playoffs, it's safe to say Elway hit a home run.
The star of the class wasn't even in the class. Undrafted running back Phillip Lindsay quickly passed up third-round pick Royce Freeman on the way to a Pro Bowl season, totaling 1,278 yards from scrimmage with 10 touchdowns. Lindsay and Freeman figure to be the one-two punch of the future behind new quarterback Joe Flacco.
Top pick Bradley Chubb was my No. 1-ranked pass-rusher, and he showed it as a rookie with 12 sacks on the other side of Von Miller. Chubb is a stud. The Broncos also got promising first seasons from wideouts Courtland Sutton and DaeSean Hamilton, who combined for 72 catches and six touchdowns. Sutton figures to be a starter -- his ascension helped the team feel good about trading away Demaryius Thomas at midseason -- while Hamilton could be the No. 3 guy going forward. Linebacker Josey Jewell, an early Day 3 pick, also played a lot as a rookie and could replace Brandon Marshall in the starting lineup.
Overall, this is a great class, and if Flacco is competent in 2019, Denver could be a sneaky playoff team.
New grade: A-
Atlanta Falcons
Post-draft grade: B
I didn't realize the breadth of the contributions of this entire class until I started to go through them one by one. You know by now about Calvin Ridley, my top-ranked receiver who finished the season with 64 receptions, 821 yards and 10 touchdowns. He's already one of the best No. 2 wideouts in the league. Isaiah Oliver wasn't rushed as a rookie, and he is likely going to start opposite Desmond Trufant in Year 2. Defensive tackle Deadrin Senat (30 tackles) and linebacker Foye Oluokun (91 tackles) took on big roles. And running back Ito Smith made an impact in the running and receiving game, with 467 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns. He could be the natural replacement for Tevin Coleman as the No. 2 back.
This is a solid if unspectacular class for Atlanta, which had a lost season due to injuries. There is talent to compete for a playoff spot in 2019.
New grade: B+
Chicago Bears
Post-draft grade: B+
Let's focus on GM Ryan Pace's second round here. He clearly went into Day 2 hoping to help quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, who was coming off a subpar rookie season. Give Pace credit: He knew exactly what he wanted. He got James Daniels, my No. 2-ranked center at No. 39, then used some capital to trade up to No. 51 for wide receiver Anthony Miller, who I called the draft's most underrated wideout. The cost was immense -- a fourth-round pick last April and a 2019 second-rounder.
How did Pace do? Well, Daniels was borderline Pro Bowl-caliber when he took over at left guard early in the season, and Miller finished with a team-leading seven touchdown catches, despite dealing with some injuries. These are two starters who will be really good players. And I haven't even mentioned top-10 pick Roquan Smith, who had 121 tackles and five sacks and was all over the field at linebacker.
It was a solid first two days for Pace and the Bears, although what they got on Day 3 was mostly help on special teams. Chicago also hit all three of its top needs on the way to a 12-4 season.
New grade: B+
Green Bay Packers
Post-draft grade: A-
Here's what I wrote to lead off last year's grade: "The Packers think they're ready to compete for a Super Bowl in 2018 if Aaron Rodgers stays on the field and if they can defend the pass." And, well, Rodgers did stay on the field, starting all 16 games, and they did get better defending the pass. The problem was most everywhere else, and that cost coach Mike McCarthy his job.
Rookie GM Brian Gutekunst's first draft has some hits. His first two picks -- cornerbacks Jaire Alexander and Josh Jackson -- have bright futures, and they combined for 21 pass breakups last season. The Packers drafted three wide receivers -- J'Mon Moore, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Equanimeous St. Brown -- and they were all forced to play at some point, combining for 61 catches and 924 yards. Valdes-Scantling probably has the highest ceiling, but is he a surefire No. 2 receiver? I'm not sold yet. Gutekunst also added New Orleans' 2019 first-round pick when the Saints traded up, so that's a huge win for Green Bay.
There weren't many impact players after Alexander, Jackson and Valdes-Scantling. Linebacker Oren Burks played only 114 defensive snaps. Punter JK Scott was just OK, and you'd want more than OK when you draft a punter, even if it's on Day 3. Offensive tackle Cole Madison didn't show up for training camp.
Adding a 2019 first-round pick means I can't drop this grade far, and the two corners are going to be really good players.
New grade: B
Houston Texans
Post-draft grade: B
I can't ding this class too much because the Texans didn't have picks in the first or second round. That's typically where the instant-impact players come from. The reason Houston still gets a B here, though, is that they got a player with a first-round grade on my board in safety Justin Reid, who went in Round 3. He had a tremendous rookie season, with 81 tackles and three interceptions.
The Texans also got solid value from tight ends Jordan Thomas (Round 6) and Jordan Akins (Round 3). Thomas, in particular, showed promise, with four touchdown catches. He could be in for a big role in Year 2. Diminutive wideout Keke Coutee could be a Day 3 steal, as he had 28 catches on just 41 targets, though he struggled with injuries. Houston had one of the worst offensive lines in all of football, and Martinas Rankin ended up starting four games. Depending on how the rest of the Texans' offseason goes, he could serve as the team's swing tackle. Undrafted punter Trevor Daniel also won the job in training camp and played in every game.
I wrote last year that "it's tough for the Texans to do better than they did," and that still stands. Reid, in particular, is going to be a key piece of the defense's future, as they lost a couple of starters in the secondary this offseason.
New grade: B
Los Angeles Chargers
Post-draft grade: B+
I called Derwin James "the steal of Round 1" in my grades at the time, and I'd say that still stands a year later. The safety had 105 tackles, three interceptions and 3.5 sacks and also broke up nine passes. We might look back at this class and wonder why all these teams passed on a safety with Hall of Fame potential in James.
The Chargers didn't get a ton from the rest of the class -- one to mention is Uchenna Nwosu, who had 3.5 sacks in the regular season and a huge strip sack in the playoff win over the Ravens -- but James being an elite defender means I can't drop them far. I also like the potential of Kyzir White, who played some linebacker as a rookie as L.A. was hit with injuries.
New grade: B
Minnesota Vikings
Post-draft grade: B
The Vikings' biggest need in the 2018 draft ... is the Vikings' biggest need in the 2019 draft. Their offensive line was so poor in front of Kirk Cousins that it's tough to evaluate his debut season in Minnesota. GM Rick Spielman tried to address the tackle spot in Round 2, taking Pitt's Brian O'Neill, who ended up starting 11 games. He was inconsistent, but that was to be expected for a raw converted tight end, and O'Neill has probably locked in a starting spot on the right side. The guard spots, however, are still iffy.
Top pick Mike Hughes had a promising debut with a pick-six in the season opener but tore his ACL in October and was lost for the season. If he can make it back to full strength, he'll be a solid No. 2 or 3 corner in Minnesota. Spielman and Mike Zimmer might have found another steal in corner Holton Hill, who went undrafted and ended up playing quite a bit.
There's not much else here for the Vikings, and there were two notable misses on Day 3. Kicker Daniel Carlson -- who cost the team a fifth-round pick -- was cut after two games, then latched on with the Raiders and had a good year. Sixth-round pick Colby Gossett didn't make the team, was picked up by the Cardinals, then started four games. He could have been the developmental guard to help Minnesota down the road.
With Hughes' high ceiling and O'Neill a likely starter, this class has a chance to be good in 2019 and beyond.
New grade: B
New England Patriots
Post-draft grade: B+
This is a really tough class to grade. The Super Bowl champs got virtually nothing from two of their top two picks. Isaiah Wynn, the offensive lineman Bill Belichick & Co. drafted with the pick from the Brandin Cooks trade, tore his ACL and missed the season. And second-round pick Duke Dawson, whom I ranked as my No. 8 corner in the class, started the season on injured reserve and ended it as a healthy scratch.
But then you look at the pick in the middle of those two, and it's running back Sony Michel, who had six playoff touchdowns and might have been the Patriots' playoff MVP. After a slow start to the season, he finished with 931 yards and six touchdowns. You also look at Belichick getting another solid contributor from the undrafted pool, with cornerback J.C. Jackson starting as a rookie in Super Bowl LIII.
New England didn't get much outside of that -- it's worth noting that Ja'Whaun Bentley was going to be a key defender before he injured his knee in the season opener -- but it has already slotted in Wynn as the replacement at left tackle for Trent Brown, who just left in free agency. This is what the Patriots do, and it's why they're the defending Super Bowl champs -- again.
New grade: B
New York Giants
Post-draft grade: B
A year later, I still would have gone with quarterback Sam Darnold with the No. 2 overall pick. Saquon Barkley is obviously a great player -- he finished his rookie season with 1,307 rushing yards, 721 receiving yards and 15 total touchdowns -- but just look where the Giants are this offseason. Eli Manning is 38 and coming off another so-so year, and there's no quarterback of the future on the roster. Odell Beckham Jr. is gone. Barkley is likely going to get 300 touches in a rebuilding 2019 season, and New York will be right back to drafting in the top 10 in 2020. Teams can get value with running backs on Days 2 and 3, which is why it's tough to justify taking a back in the top five, no matter how good he is.
Now, GM Dave Gettleman had some hits elsewhere. I liked the pick of Will Hernandez in Round 2, and the guard played 99.9 percent of the team's offensive snaps in Year 1. Outside linebacker Lorenzo Carter and defensive tackle B.J. Hill combined for 9.5 sacks. That's three starters added on Day 2. The Giants also got contributions from undrafted defenders Grant Haley and Tae Davis.
As I wrote last April, "you can love the player but question the pick." Barkley is a superstar. But New York still went 5-11, and I don't see things getting better in 2019.
New grade: B
New York Jets
Post-draft grade: B
This class is all about GM Mike Maccagnan doing all he could to get a quarterback. He traded three second-round picks to move up three spots to get Sam Darnold at No. 3. And after a slow start to the season, Darnold showed flashes of stardom down the stretch. The Jets' have their franchise signal-caller, and they are focused now on building around him. They're a year ahead of the Giants in their rebuild.
With no second-round picks, the Jets made the most of the rest of the class. Nathan Shepherd started five games and could be a permanent starter for new defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. Tight end Chris Herndon flashed, catching 39 passes for 502 yards and four touchdowns. He was my seventh-ranked tight end. Undrafted pass-rusher Frankie Luvu had three sacks. Day 3 corner Parry Nickerson could play a big role in 2019 and beyond.
Again, this Jets draft was all about getting Darnold, and you can see that Maccagnan & Co. have a plan. I'm excited to see how Le'Veon Bell helps the second-year passer.
New grade: B
San Francisco 49ers
Post-draft grade: B-
GM John Lynch clearly had a plan going into the 2018 draft, hoping to make things easier on quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo with the team's early picks. That started with the trade of Trent Brown to the Patriots, which opened a big hole at right tackle. New England got one great year of Brown -- who switched to the left side -- but San Francisco might have gotten a long-term win with Mike McGlinchey, who played 99.7 percent of the snaps at right tackle and is on a much smaller deal than Brown just got in free agency. Don't be surprised if McGlinchey replaces Joe Staley on the left side soon.
The Niners' season clearly didn't go as planned after Garoppolo got injured, but second-round pick Dante Pettis was a bright spot, as he averaged 17.3 yards per catch with five touchdowns. He'll be a big part of their attempt to bounce back in 2019. Linebacker Fred Warner played a much bigger immediate role because of Reuben Foster's injury and then release, finishing with 123 tackles. His 1,011 snaps played were second-most for a rookie defender, behind only Darius Leonard in Indianapolis. That's a lot of impact from two Day 2 players.
Seventh-round pick Richie James became the team's primary kick returner and had a touchdown. Defensive backs D.J. Reed and Marcell Harris chipped in for a struggling defense. Overall, though, this was a nice second draft for Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan. If Garoppolo is healthy in 2019, the Niners will be much improved.
New grade: B
Seattle Seahawks
Post-draft grade: C+
You have to hand it to Pete Carroll, who knows what he's looking for in a defensive back. And the Seahawks found one of the steals of the draft in Tre Flowers in Round 5. He was my 24th-ranked safety, but Carroll saw him as a corner, and the 6-foot-3 Flowers became an instant starter, playing 91.1 percent of the team's defensive snaps. He broke up six passes, forced three fumbles and had 67 total tackles. You don't see Day 3 defensive backs make instant contributions like that often.
Elsewhere, the arrow is pointing up on running back Rashaad Penny, but Round 1 was a reach at the time, and he spent most of 2018 behind former seventh-round pick Chris Carson. Seattle could have helped its offensive line there (Will Hernandez would have looked good at guard). Michael Dickson is already one of the NFL's best punters. The team really likes the potential of tight end Will Dissly, who missed most of the season with a knee injury. Shaquem Griffin played just 48 defensive snaps in Year 1. Defensive linemen Rasheem Green (Round 3) and Poona Ford (undrafted) will be key rotation pieces this season.
Where this class gets dinged, though, is not having a second-round pick after trading for Sheldon Richardson, who spent just one season with the team. That's a miss. Otherwise, this class is mostly a hit.
New grade: B
Carolina Panthers
Post-draft grade: A-
I was high on this class at the time, and the Panthers got significant contributions from three rookies in Year 1: Cornerback Donte Jackson established himself as a starter, playing almost 90 percent of the defensive snaps and intercepting four passes. Wide receiver D.J. Moore was up and down, but he finished the season with 55 catches for 788 yards and two touchdowns, good numbers for a rookie wideout. And tight end Ian Thomas showed some flashes of a positive life after Greg Olsen, as he had 36 catches and two touchdowns while filling in for the Panthers legend.
Outside of those three, though? Carolina didn't get much of anything else. Linebackers Marquis Haynes and Jermaine Carter and cornerback Rashaan Gaulden played few snaps on a defense that needed a jolt down the stretch. There were no other meaningful contributors.
My issue with the class last April was that the Panthers didn't address their need for a pass-rusher, and that's still a need a year later. I expect them to look at a defensive end in the 2019 class. Still, with the high ceilings of Moore and Jackson, I can't drop this class too much.
New grade: B-
Dallas Cowboys
Post-draft grade: B-
The Cowboys addressed three of their top four clear needs early last year, taking linebacker Leighton Vander Esch in Round 1, offensive lineman Connor Williams in Round 2 and receiver Michael Gallup in Round 3. There were varying degrees of success here. Vander Esch (138 tackles and two interceptions) is a budding star, while Williams struggled at guard and Gallup (33 catches on 68 targets) was extremely inconsistent as Dak Prescott's deep threat. There is reason to think all three will take a step up in Year 2, however, and Gallup is already entrenched as the No. 2 wideout.
So despite Dallas not getting much of anything out of its Day 3 picks, this has a chance to be a really good class.
New grade: B-
Detroit Lions
Post-draft grade: B-
Here's what I wrote to lead off last year's grade: "Matt Patricia's first draft as coach of the Lions could be defined by whether they finally find a consistent running game." And for the most part, Detroit showed that it's trending up. Running Kerryon Johnson flashed his talent on the way to a 618-yard injury-shortened season, while guard Frank Ragnow played 99.7 percent of the offensive snaps. The Lions finally broke their pitiful streak of not having a 100-yard rusher.
And yet, there's a reason offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter was let go. The Lions still have a long way to go, and the backs averaged just 4.1 yards per carry, which ranked 28th in the league. Johnson and Ragnow will be a big part of new coordinator Darrell Bevell's plans.
Elsewhere, fourth-round pick Da'Shawn Hand had an outstanding season with three sacks and 27 total tackles along the Detroit defensive line. Third-round pick Tracy Walker will be in the running to take over for Glover Quin at one of the safety spots.
GM Bob Quinn and Patricia had a decent first draft, but there are still questions coming off a 6-10 season.
New grade: B-
Kansas City Chiefs
Post-draft grade: C+
This class can be compared to the Rams' in that the Chiefs didn't get a ton of snaps out of their rookies. But we have to count the rise of Patrick Mahomes here, and he should count as Kansas City's first-round pick. Former GM John Dorsey bet big to move up for Mahomes in 2017, giving up this 2018 pick to move up 17 spots. All Mahomes did was win MVP in his first season as the starter. That's a win.
As for the actual class, Day 2 picks Breeland Speaks, Derrick Nnadi and Dorian O'Daniel were in the rotation and should be integral parts of a rebuilding defense in 2019. Speaks, in particular, will be asked to help fill the void of Dee Ford on the edge. Tremon Smith was the Chiefs' top kick returner. And keep an eye on Kahlil McKenzie, whom Andy Reid & Co. moved from defensive tackle to guard and gave him a redshirt year.
Maybe I'm cheating a bit here based on the actual rookies who saw the field, but the Mahomes move matters, and Kansas City's decision to go all-in for a quarterback was a home run.
New grade: B-
Los Angeles Rams
Post-draft grade: B-
Here's why I can't drop this grade even though the Rams didn't get much out of their rookies. Count receiver Brandin Cooks as a first-round pick, cornerback Marcus Peters as a fourth-round pick and cornerback Aqib Talib as a fifth-round pick. GM Les Snead and Sean McVay went all-in to win now ... and it worked. These veterans were a huge part of getting the Rams to Super Bowl LIII.
McVay's roster was already solid, so it was tough for rookies to crack the lineup, especially with no picks in the first and second rounds. The guys to watch in the future are Joseph Noteboom and Brian Allen, who could compete for starting offensive line spots this season. There's still a lot we don't know about the rest of the class, just because they couldn't get on the field in 2018.
New grade: B-
Philadelphia Eagles
Post-draft grade: A-
The good in this class: Dallas Goedert, my top-ranked tight end, had a solid season, catching 33 passes with four touchdowns. He was a steal in the second round, and he'll be an important weapon alongside Zach Ertz. Fourth-round pick Avonte Maddox was forced to play a lot because of Philly's injury issues, spending time at cornerback and safety. He looks like another potential steal. The Eagles also added a 2019 second-round pick in trading down with Baltimore, which means they have three top-60 picks in this year's draft.
The bad: With only five total picks, it's tough to grade this class too highly, and we still don't know much about the remaining three guys. Late-round offensive tackles Matt Pryor and Jordan Mailata didn't see the field -- maybe that's a good thing for their development -- and defensive end Josh Sweat played just 64 snaps and was buried on the depth chart.
All in all, a 40 percent hit rate for Year 1 is phenomenal, and I'm hoping Sweat, whom I ranked No. 71 overall on my board going into the draft, can fulfill his potential. And that extra second-round pick could be a huge help for a team with a ton of talent in 2019.
New grade: B-
Washington Redskins
Post-draft grade: B+
As I wrote a year ago, the Redskins had the league's worst rush defense in 2017, so taking defensive tackle Daron Payne in Round 1 filled their biggest need. Payne responded with a solid first season, with five sacks and 56 total tackles. The defense was much improved, and it's also worth noting that he didn't have to be a two-down player -- Payne played 77.3 percent of Washington's defensive snaps. Seventh-round pick Greg Stroman also saw significant time at corner and could be a solid backup.
The Redskins' problem down the stretch of the season -- after quarterback Alex Smith went down -- was mostly on offense, as injuries took their toll on a team that was 6-3 in November. Where would they have been if Derrius Guice hadn't torn his ACL before the season? I expect him to play a big role in 2019. I also liked the pick of Geron Christian, though he played just 41 snaps as a rookie. I'd bet on his talent.
Overall, this class didn't produce a ton in Year 1, but I like its potential to help a team with a solid roster overall.
New grade: B-
Arizona Cardinals
Post-draft grade: C+
This is a tough one. Arizona was the league's worst team in 2018, and it was a one-and-done year for coach Steve Wilks. And yet the Cardinals got production out of their rookies. Day 2 picks Christian Kirk (43 catches, 3 TDs) and Mason Cole (played 99.9 percent of offensive snaps at center) were solid. Running back Chase Edmonds (fourth round) and linebacker Zeke Turner (undrafted) got some snaps, and so did offensive linemen Korey Cunningham (seventh round) and Colby Gossett (sixth round; cut by Vikings), if only because Arizona's offensive line was devastated by injuries.
But if the team isn't sold on quarterback Josh Rosen, how could I be? I'm surprised to see so many folks down on the former UCLA star this offseason. He is super talented and didn't get a ton of help in Year 1. There's no doubt he struggled, though, and he looked out of his depth far too often. Still, are the Cardinals really going to trade him after one year of evaluating him on a terrible team? We knew he needed some time to develop, and he's still just 22. Besides, if Arizona trades Rosen and drafts Kyler Murray No. 1, Murray is going to struggle behind that offensive line, too.
And so the Cardinals got a lot of snaps out of rookies, but I wouldn't count all of them as productive snaps. And the Rosen conundrum makes me drop them a little further.
New grade: C+
Cincinnati Bengals
Post-draft grade: B
The two gems of this class came on Day 2, but the jury is still out on the rest of the group, including top pick Billy Price. The center had a rough rookie season, starting 10 games around an ankle injury, and could even move to guard in 2019. Price was my third-ranked center -- he had a second-round grade on my board -- and needs a bounce-back year.
Safety Jessie Bates (111 tackles and three interceptions) looks like a second-round steal, while defensive end Sam Hubbard (six sacks) made an impact as a rotational pass-rusher. Hubbard might not be an every-down player, but he's a steady guy to have as the No. 3 DE. Will Malik Jefferson make an impact in Year 2? I was surprised he played so little on a team that needed help at linebacker. The Day 3 picks didn't do much of anything in Cincy.
Bates is the best player in this class, a potential Pro Bowl player, but there are a lot of questions about how the rest fit in, especially with a regime change under new coach Zac Taylor.
New grade: C+
Miami Dolphins
Post-draft grade: C+
Here's what I wrote last year: "The one big question coming out of this draft: Where was the quarterback? Miami is really going to go into the 2018 season with Ryan Tannehill and Brock Osweiler as its top two QBs."
This holds up pretty well, as the Dolphins just traded away Tannehill and are going through a regime change under new coach Brian Flores and GM Chris Grier. You can't totally blame the rookie class, of course, but it wasn't spectacular, either. And you have to wonder what the team's outlook would be if Lamar Jackson had been the pick at No. 11 -- or the team traded back to get him -- and it knew it had the QB of the future headed into 2019.
Still, I loved Minkah Fitzpatrick going into the draft, and he had a good rookie season with 79 total tackles and two interceptions. Linebacker Jerome Baker had 76 tackles. Jason Sanders, whom Miami took in Round 7, was the team's primary kicker. Running back Kalen Ballage is a sneaky fantasy player to watch in 2019, though he didn't get much action in Year 1. It's too early to evaluate the two tight ends -- Mike Gesicki and Durham Smythe -- as they didn't make an impact.
I'll stick with my original grade here because of the QB issue. This is a rebuilding team with a ton of holes heading into the 2019 draft.
New grade: C+
Oakland Raiders
Post-draft grade: B
Jon Gruden's first year back in Oakland was a complete teardown, and it started at the draft, where the Raiders took some risks. Did they work? Not yet, though it's still early.
Offensive tackles Kolton Miller and Brandon Parker were thrown into the fire, and they had their fair share of struggles. New GM Mike Mayock signed Trent Brown in free agency to play left tackle, so it's likely that Miller becomes the starter on the right side while Parker is the swing guy or moves inside to guard. I had a fifth-round grade on defensive tackle P.J. Hall, and Oakland took him in Round 2. The Raiders also went after first-round talents Arden Key and Maurice Hurst later in the draft, and Hurst played more -- and better -- than Hall and is likely a starter in 2019. Johnny Townsend, my top-ranked punter, won the job but was below average.
I like what Mayock and Gruden have done this offseason, and with three first-round picks, they have a chance to accelerate their rebuild if they can get some hits. And they need to get much more from their 2018 class to help.
New grade: C+
Pittsburgh Steelers
Post-draft grade: C+
My two issues with the Steelers' 2018 class: (1) Terrell Edmunds was a reach at the end of the first round. There were better safeties on the board. (2) They didn't find a replacement for Ryan Shazier.
Those qualms still hold up a year later. Edmunds was just OK in Year 1, finishing with 73 tackles while playing 92.3 percent of Pittsburgh's defensive snaps. But the two guys I mentioned last year, Justin Reid and Jessie Bates, both had better seasons. As for the void at inside linebacker, that hole is still open. The team is now trying to fill it in free agency with Mark Barron.
I liked the Jaylen Samuels pick in Round 5 -- I called him one of the most versatile offensive players in the class -- and he is a useful No. 2 back who can help in the receiving game. If James Washington can be even close to a serviceable Antonio Brown replacement in 2019 -- that's asking a lot, I know -- this grade would shoot up, but he was inconsistent as a rookie. Of course, if third-round pick Mason Rudolph ends up as the heir apparent to Ben Roethlisberger, my issues with the class will be silly in hindsight.
For now, let's keep this grade the same.
New grade: C+
Jacksonville Jaguars
Post-draft grade: B
Jacksonville took a major step back in 2018, and we've already seen Tom Coughlin & Co. change quarterbacks (Blake Bortles to Nick Foles) this offseason. But the defense wasn't as good as it had been in 2017, and its rookie class didn't help a ton.
Top pick Taven Bryan played just 286 defensive snaps, and it's tough to know what the Jags have in him. He was one of the biggest physical freaks of the 2018 class, but he was extremely raw. And with Malik Jackson gone, maybe Bryan will step in and become a starter. He gets an "incomplete" for Year 1.
I liked the value of safety Ronnie Harrison at the end of Round 3, and he played so well that the team cut veteran Barry Church midseason. Harrison is likely going to be the starting strong safety going forward, but he and seventh-round punter Logan Cooke are the only surefire starters from this class. Wideout DJ Chark, a second-round pick, had a rough season with just 14 catches on 32 targets.
All in all, this class could come good if Bryan and Harrison develop into solid starters, but there's too much unknown to grade it too highly after one season.
New grade: C
New Orleans Saints
Post-draft grade: C+
A year after having one of the best instant-impact rookie classes ever, the Saints' 2018 class didn't come close to hitting that mark.
The good? The second-round pick they gave up in 2017 to move up for Alvin Kamara still looks great, even if I panned it at the time. We'll count that here. Day 2 wideout Tre'Quan Smith showed off his potential, catching 28 passes with five touchdowns. Undrafted receiver Keith Kirkwood was a nice pickup -- he had three total touchdowns, including one in the playoffs.
The bad? Most everything else. I questioned trading up for raw pass-rusher Marcus Davenport at the time, and while he flashed, he didn't make the huge impact needed to justify the haul of a 2019 first-round pick and a 2018 fifth-rounder. He should be a starter in 2019. The Saints also cut draft picks Natrell Jamerson, Kamrin Moore, Boston Scott and, most crucially, Rick Leonard, a fourth-rounder, before the season, which is a lot of wasted capital.
New Orleans almost got to the Super Bowl, but it didn't get much of anything from its rookies and now doesn't have a pick in Round 1 of the upcoming draft. Let's see if Davenport & Co. can show their worth in Year 2.
New grade: C
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Post-draft grade: B
I wrote last year that I was surprised Tampa Bay didn't pull the trigger on safety Derwin James with the 12th pick. I thought he would have instantly upgraded the secondary. And based on how good he was in L.A., I was right. Now, Vita Vea, whom GM Jason Licht took over James, came on at the end of the season, and I like his potential. But defensive tackle wasn't nearly as big of a need at the time as safety was, and Vea took half the season to make an impact. The jury is also still out on second-round pick Ronald Jones II, who had just 23 carries as a rookie for a team with one of the worst rushing offenses in the league. That's not a great sign for the future.
Licht did address the secondary on Day 2, taking cornerbacks Carlton Davis and M.J. Stewart in the second round. Davis started 12 games and Stewart started five, but they looked like rookies in Year 1. Let's see what a full year in a pro strength and conditioning program does. Safety Jordan Whitehead might have been the most impactful Bucs rookie, as the fourth-round pick had 76 tackles and four pass breakups.
The question I asked after last year's draft was: Did the defense get better? Well, it didn't -- Tampa Bay allowed quarterbacks to complete a ridiculous 72.5 percent of their passes, the worst mark in the league. There's a reason new coach Bruce Arians brought in his guy Todd Bowles to help fix the D.
New grade: C
Tennessee Titans
Post-draft grade: B-
The Titans were aggressive last year, trading up for their top picks. The problem? That left them with just four total selections for the draft. As I wrote last year, "They better hit on who they moved up for."
I'm not sure we know whether they did just yet. Pass-rusher Harold Landry (4.5 sacks) flashed in a rotational role but still has a ways to go. He's likely going to start with Brian Orakpo gone. Inside linebacker Rashaan Evans missed training camp with an injury and was slow to get in the groove, but he ended up starting seven games and had 53 tackles. The Titans' final pick, sixth-round quarterback Luke Falk, didn't make the roster and landed in Miami. The team did get some decent snaps from undrafted linebacker Sharif Finch.
All in all, it's tough to grade such a small class highly. If Evans and Landry can develop into top-tier talents, that 50 percent hit rate will look nice on GM Jon Robinson's résumé. But this team had a lot of needs that it couldn't fill because the picks were traded to move up.
New grade: C