Night one of the NFL Draft is completed and our panel of contributors have decided to weigh-in on the good, bad and ugly moments of the opening round.
The Good:
Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati needed to upgrade its offensive line after a disappointing 2023 campaign and drafting Amarius Mims could be their answer to the right tackle spot. The biggest questions surrounding Mims is that he started just 8 games at Alabama last season and his consistency. However, he has a good frame and can be dominant at times, especially in the run game.
Denver Broncos
The Broncos desperately need a capable quarterback as coach Sean Peyton continues to build the team back up. And while Nix was considered by many experts as a 2nd-rounder, he could very well be the sleeper of this year's quarterback class. Nix is solid when it comes to reading defenses and is able to extend plays with his feet.
Los Angeles Chargers
New head coach Jim Harbaugh had been on the record stating that you need to be dominant in the trenches to win. So getting Notre Dame offensive lineman Joe Alt was a key piece to building Harbaugh's team. The Chargers had a major need for a right tackle and Alt sure fits the bill.
Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings got 2 solid picks in QB J.J. McCarthy and DE Dallas Turner. McCarthy could be a good fit in Minnesota as he'll be surrounded by Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson as his playmakers. Turner is one of the top defensive players in this class and very much a bargain as the 17th overall pick.
Offense
Man, was this one an offensive-heavy first round. There were a total of 23 players taken on the offensive side of the ball on Thursday, including the first 14 picks. Many teams took the chance to address key needs such as quarterback, wide receiver, and offensive line. Luckily for these teams, those positions were pretty well-stocked with talent.
The Bad:
Miami Dolphins
Miami isn't necessarily a full-blown loser for going with DE Chop Robinson, but it's risky choice. Most scouts say his film is a lot better than his productivity, but there's a problem with that assessment. Production from edge players is crucial in this modern era. But Miami is in need of an extra man on at defensive end, as both Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb suffered injuries last season. Robinson will definitely be a high-risk, high-reward guy.
Running Backs
While it's just the third time ever that a running back was not selected in the first round — this one was not much of a surprise — as many experts predicted this to happen. Some of the reasons for nobody being drafted could be attributed to a deeper roster of lineman and quarterbacks or even a weaker class of backs. But it's also possible that modern offenses are not looking for a Frank Gore-like talent to tote the rock like they used to.
The Ugly:
Atlanta Falcons
This was a real head scratcher by the Falcons to go with Michael Penix Jr., considering they just made a massive deal to get Kirk Cousins and they have major needs on the defensive side of the ball. However Penix has some good traits, such as a strong, accurate arm when he's set in the pocket. However, there's a lot of questions about his accuracy and decision-making when he's forced to move around.
Cleveland Browns
Yeah, we're aware they didn't have a pick tonight. But just remember these key stats:
6 years/$230,000,000M — fully guaranteed
2022 1st-round pick
2023 1st-round pick, 3rd-round pick
2024 1st-round pick, 4th-round pick
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