3rd Round Grades
Before I begin, if you’ve been reading all my work, thank you! I have been doing this privately for many years, but decided to move it into the public sphere because I do all this work anyway.
That being said, I will no longer grade trades because at this point, they are too numerous and make it nearly impossible to track. Also, as a person with a full-time job, I have not been able to get around to all of these guys, so some of these picks will not be as detailed as the first two rounds, and the combine will heavily influence much of the analysis. I might do a separate post about Shaduer once he is finally picked.
65. New York Giants - Darius Alexander, DT, Toledo
Grade: A
One of my guys out of the combine. Yes, he will be 25 years old week 1, he also played against lower-end talent in college, but I still love him. His physical profile is excellent with a great get off for someone his size, and fantastic movement skills.
66. Kansas City Chiefs - Ashton Gilotte, EDGE, Louisville
Grade: C-
Gilotte physically confuses me when watching him. He is a bit undersized from the height side, but he is all limbs while moving. Did not see him use his hands well against blocks, and is not very agile due to his more stout size.
67. Cleveland Browns - Harold Fannin Jr, TE, Bowling Green
Grade: B+
I heard throughout the process that Harold Fannin was going to be the ultimate duh player. Either duh, look at what he did in college, of course he is good, or duh look who he played in college, no wonder he didn’t work out. That seems accurate to me, but I am more in the former camp than the latter. He is such a weird but amazing athlete, who everyone knew was getting the ball, but still destroyed.
68. Las Vegas Raiders - Darien Porter, CB, Iowa State
Grade: C
Not a huge fan of a player who did not start a game until his 6th year. I will defer to Pete Carrol and his history with long fast CBs in the past.
69. New England Patriots - Kyle Williams, WR, Washington State
Grade: A
Drake Maye has a cannon for an arm. Go give him a guy who can straight up fly, and has shown some very intriguing flashes of real route running ability. Just gets the football and makes plays.
70. Detroit Lions - Isaac TeSlaa, WR, Arkansas
Grade: B
A frak level athlete with great size. Do not like the lack of production, or distinct lack thereof, in college, but it would not be surprising to see him put some of his flashes together into a solid WR in the league.
71. New Orleans Saints - Vernon Broughton, DT, Texas
Grade: B-
6’5 and 311 lbs with 35-inch arms. Put him in the middle of a defensive line and see improvements in your rush defense. Better process than other teams picking similar players earlier on.
72. Buffalo Bills - Landon Jackson, EDGE, Arkansas
Grade: C+
Betting on physical tools here, but football is not a sport played in a straight line. However, having those physical traits can often mean success as an EDGE in the league and if he can learn to bend a bit, this could be a massive value pick.
73. New York Jets - Azareye’h Thomas, CB, Florida State
Grade: B+
A corner with great size who many comp to Carlton Davis, who just did great things with Aaron Glenn last year. Seems like a good idea to chase that archetype again.
74. Denver Broncos - Pat Bryant, WR, Illinois
Grade: C
Sean Payton is beginning to develop a type for his WR room in Denver. Not sure if I agree with the success of it so far, but maybe it’s because he hasn’t had the best version of the type of player he wanted yet?
75. San Francisco 49ers - Nick Martin, LB, Oklahoma State
Grade: A+
This is a total me take, and not something you will see out there often. This guy is a physical freak, but his tape doesn’t match what you would hope to see out of a productive player. Now let that player go to the team that developed Dre Greenlaw and Fred Warner, and learn from Fred Warner at the same time? Cinema.
76. Dallas Cowboys - Shavon Revel Jr, CB, ECU
Grade: A
Going into this year, pre-ACL injury, Shavon Revel was a very likely 1st round pick. Getting him here in the middle of the 3rd round is a great bet to make, and the Cowboys usually hit with these types of picks.
77. Carolina Panthers - Princely Umanmielen, EDGE, Ole Miss
Grade: B+
The Panthers still needed a lot of EDGE help after free agency, and flooding the zone with Scourton and now Umanmielen is a great way to address it. He has good play recognition, and size that combine to help him make quick wins. The other hand on those quick wins were inconsistent get offs, and without those quick wins looks like he can be at a loss for what to do next.
78. Arizona Cardinals - Jordan Burch, EDGE, Oregon
Grade: A
I first heard of this guy when he was in high school, because he went to one of my best friend’s younger brothers. I saw clips of him playing basketball, and it was crazy to watch someone so big be that much more athletic in a sport where athleticism doesn’t perfectly translate. He is probably 40 pounds heavier now, but his athleticism still shines through. He moves very well, with a low center of gravity that amplifies his movement skills and strengths.
79. Houston Texans - Jaylin Noel, WR, Iowa State
Grade: A
Ok, maybe I am coming around to the Texans’ plan? Instead of the 7 seconds or less offense, we will call this the two seconds or less offense, because that is all the time CJ Stroud will have to throw the ball. If you squint, with guys like Nico Collins, Jayden Higgins, and Jaylin Noel, it might just work?
80. Indianapolis Colts - Justin Waley, CB, Minnesota
Grade: D
I did not get deep enough into the draft to watch this player. Other sources I trust have him starting as a 5th rounder.
81. Cincinnati Bengals - Dylan Fairchild, OG, UgA
Grade: A
Keeping Joe Burrow upright is always a good idea. He’s a very solid size, and is another great mover. Had him as my 6th overall IOL so getting him this late is great value.
82. Tennessee Titans - Kevin Winston Jr, S, PSU
Grade: B+
Penn State safeties have a good track record, and Winston was a two-year starter before discovering a partially torn ACL in week 3 of this year. Was voted a team captain on one of the best defenses in the country, and is a strong and violent tackler.
83. Pittsburgh Steelers- Kaleb Johnson, RB, Iowa
Grade: A
Arthur Smith is salivating about how he can use Kaleb Johnson right now. Smith will stay awake until 3 in the morning thinking up new blocking schemes for Johnson to run behind. He is big, he is faster on the field than his testing shows, and he was my RB#4 in the draft. Great pick and great fit.
84. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Jacob Parish, CB, Kansas State
Grade: B
Shorter than you would like, but has longer arm length than you would expect for someone who is 5’9”. Meaning he can match up against bigger receivers and still compete. Also, really fast, ran a 4.35 40 yard dash at the combine.
85. Kansas City Chiefs - Nohl Williams, CB, Cal
Grade: B-
Slower than you would ideally want in a corner, but started 50 out of a total of 52 games in his college career. Plays very physically and is a plus run defender at his position. Was named a consensus All-American in 2024 after his seven-interception season.
86. Los Angeles Chargers - Jamaree Caldwell, DT, Oregon
Grade: C
Will be 25 as of week 1. Built like a fire hydrant, and stays just as sturdy as one if you run into him. Not much to like in terms of pass rush, but that will never be his calling card.
87. Green Bay Packers - Savion Williams, WR, TCU
Grade: D+
I will not be fooled by another big athletic wide receiver who does not put up great tape. Especially a WR from TCU (Jack Bech is different).
88. Jacksonville Jaguars - Caleb Ransaw, CB, Tulane
Grade: B+
Speedy corner with decent size. Has also played every position in the secondary.
89. Jacksonville Jaguars - Wyatt Milum, OG, West Virginia
Grade: C-
Not nearly as big of a fan as some other prognosticators are. Had him as my 15h overall IOL in the draft. Moves ok, especially for his size, but poor athletic testing to go with it.
90. Los Angeles Rams - Josiah Stewart, EDGE, Michigan
Grade: B
The Rams were able to hit one two undersized defensive lineman with shorter arms last year, so maybe they can do it again here with the 6’1” 249lb Stewart. Only FBS prospect with over 30 sacks in this years draft.
91. Baltimore Ravens - Emery Jones, OT, LSU
Grade: C
Tall tackle with huge hands who does not move as well as I would like to see.
92. Seattle Seahawks - Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama
Grade: A+
Great process. Milroe was my QB#2 in this year’s draft, and that is because this, more than any other position, should be one you should shoot for the stars. Milroe has higher upside flashes than any other non-Cam Ward QB in this draft. He is a remarkable athlete with an arm that can make every throw. Now the question is when he asks it to will it, and will he see the field well enough to get it there in the first place. Sitting behind Sam Darnold for two years will massively benefit him and give him the chance to develop in the quiet PNW until it is his turn to shine.
93. New Orleans Saints - Jonas Sanker, S, UVA
Grade: C+
A good-sized safety who loves to make a play around the line of scrimmage, to the detriment of his coverage ability at times.
94. Cleveland Browns - Dillon Gabriel, QB, Oregon
Grade: B
I haven’t understood the Dillon Gabriel hate. He was a former Heisman contender who ended up QBing a team that seriously competed for a National title this year. That seems like a guy worth taking a small bet on, even if his upside is hard to see.
95. New England Patriots - Jared Wilson, C, UgA
Grade: B+
Like his size for a center and has very good movement skills as well. Like the value of the pick here, and the help to keep Drake Maye upright, and the run game moving.
96. Atlanta Falcons - Xavier Watts, S, Notre Dame
Grade: A
Back to back all American with 134 tackles and 13 interceptions in the past two years. An unbelievable pairing next to Jesse Bates.
97. Houston Texans - Jaylin Smith, CB, USC
Grade: D+
Undersized corner with good long speed, but not very quick. Usually, a weird combination for secondary players. Does move rather fluidly though.
98. Las Vegas Raiders - Caleb Rogers, OT, Texas Tech
Grade: C-
Why not just take the guy you picked next, and grab a different player the pick after. Not a fan of his movement skills, who is not too big, or too athletic to miss.
99. Las Vegas Raiders - Charles Grant, OT, William & Mary
Grade: A
One of my guys. He moves so well, and yes, he played against lesser competition, I don’t care. Take the chance that this already pretty decent player figures it out at arguably the 2nd most important position in football.
100. San Francisco 49ers - Upton Stout, CB, Western Kentucky
Grade: B-
Not the fastest but plays at his top speed consistently. Very small and slight frame.
101. Denver Broncos - Sai’vion Jones, EDGE, LSU
Grade: B+
Has all the physical traits you would want in an EDGE. 6’5”, 283lbs with a 4.75 40 and a 1.59 10 yard split. Yeah, that is the kind of player you try an make work.
102. Minnesota Vikings - Tai Felton, WR, Maryland
Grade: B+
Fast wide receiver with decent size who plays deep balls really well. The Vikings love taking shots and having Tai as another option for Kevin O’Connell’s offense is a scary thing for defenses to deal with.
