Nearly a full year is spent watching prospects, gathering information and building a board from which to pick players in the NFL Draft. Several variables ultimately determine whether or not a player will be successful, and I am not narcissistic enough to think I have all the answers on April 29. However, over the past few days, the facts have become clearer in order to determine who was the best selection (with a focus on value) for each franchise.
Without further ado, here are the candidates and my thought process for each:
Day 3 selections often have a long shot to make much of an impact in the league, but Cincinnati did a really nice job finding value. Duke interior offensive lineman Brian Parker II, Texas tight end Jack Endries and Lew were all good value relative at that stage of the draft. Lew will play center, which means Parker will almost certainly compete at guard.
The Browns did an excellent job over the first two days, not only taking value when it was available, but moving around the board. They took four of the top-25 on my final big board, but the biggest outlier was McNeil-Warren. He is a long safety with great range and physicality playing downhill. Cleveland now has the personnel to dip into more three-safety sets with Grant Delpit, Ronnie Hickman and McNeil-Warren.
Baltimore's first two selections were Penn State offensive guard Vega Ioane and Missouri edge rusher Zion Young. The vision for how to use those two players is clear. They also found nice value with a few Day 3 selections, including Rivers. Rivers is a diminutive cornerback but also a great football player who does not allow that lack of ideal size to be a crutch.
Bernard has been a personal favorite throughout this process because his floor is so high. He is willing to do the dirty work in the run game and the athletic testing was better than anticipated. The receiver room is pretty well stocked with D.K. Metcalf, Michael Pittman Jr. and now Bernard.
Burks was a top-100 type prospect in this class. The size and durability have been called into question, but he has a really fluid gait and is elusive post-catch. Indianapolis should not need him in 2026, but this is quality depth in the seventh round.
Jacksonville strayed from the consensus big board more than any team, which was a hot topic among evaluators. There is value in the consensus boards in my opinion, but it also should not be some North Star for teams. If teams have convictions about player(s), they should follow those beliefs rather than worrying about the consensus board, because it is their job on the line at the end of the day. However, straying from the consensus board is often not a wise business decision.
Pregnon is an example of the positive value Jacksonville found. He is a stout interior player who will lean on defenders in the run game. The ex-Duck was a second-round caliber prospect.
Houston's draft was among my personal least favorites in terms of value, but the last two selections -- Boston College wide receiver Lewis Bond and Fisher -- are just good football players. Bond knows how to get open but the high-end speed is noticeably absent. Fisher plays the linebacker position in an honorable way. He also may lack high-end traits, but there is a reliability that he brings to the football field.
Tennessee's draft was a mixed bag. Hill is an athletic linebacker prospect with unreal production over the last three seasons. There are concerns about the down-to-down consistency, but Robert Saleh should put him in a position to succeed.
Penn State running back Nicholas Singleton and Baylor defensive lineman Jackie Marshall were a few other value picks on Day 3.
Kilgore brings versatility to the Buffalo defense and the thought was that he would be off the board much sooner. The Bills have been looking for stability in the safety room since Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer's time ended.
Texas A&M offensive guard Ar'maj Reed-Adams was the other selection that jumped out, because they need to replace David Edwards who departed in free agency.
Bell is a great pickup for Miami for a few reasons. First, he is a talented player who was only available that late because of the torn ACL. He is skilled enough to develop into a No. 1 receiver. Second, there is no pressure to put him on the field this season. They can bring him along at his own pace.
Iowa edge rusher Max Llewellyn was good value as well.
Ponds was the only Jets selection of surplus value relative to personal rankings, so it was an easy choice. Although shorter in stature, Ponds' play style was endearing to head coach Aaron Glenn. He will have an opportunity to play early.
Crownover is a massive offensive tackle and the thought was that he would come off the board alongside some of the other bigger bodies, such as Miami's Markel Bell.
Utah offensive tackle Caleb Lomu, Illinois edge rusher Gabe Jacas and Notre Dame tight end Eli Raridon are all good football players. Boston College's Quintayvious Hutchins is a really fun player who could see time as a designated pass rusher.
Casey played offensive tackle for the Broncos but is projected to play inside at the next level, a transition previously paved by Boise State's own Ezra Cleveland. Casey was higher in personal rankings. There was not an immediate need on Denver's offensive line, but Sean Payton has historically invested in that unit.