By Cooper Girolamo
There were some teams that killed the NFL Draft this year and others that did not. Some teams made some very boneheaded picks that will set the franchise back a few years. This will cover who I believe to have had the three worst drafts this year.
No. 1 Cleveland Browns
The Browns are my biggest loser. I really liked what they did in getting a haul to move down three picks and then still get a great player in Mason Graham. Outside of that I have no idea what they were doing. They had two top picks in the second round and first reached on UCLA linebacker Carson Schwesinger. They could have gotten him by trading down later in the second round.
They then took running back Quinshon Judkins from Ohio State. They took him while the better Ohio State running back, TreVeyon Henderson was still on the board. They took tight end Harold Fannin Jr., who I love, but his full potential will not be utilized in Cleveland as he will most likely sit behind David Njoku for many seasons. They later took a second running back, Dylan Sampson from Tennessee. Instead of using the pick on a position of need they used it on him, and while he is a good player, they already took a running back and still have a solid back in Jerome Ford.
© Barbara J. Perenic/Columbus Dispatch/USA TODAY NETWORK
We now get to the two worst picks in the draft. Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. It was clear the Browns needed a young QB who can compete to be their guy. If they thought Dillon Gabriel was their guy, then go with him. If they thought Sanders with all the news surrounding him was the guy, then go with him. Why waste a draft pick and create a lot of useless drama by taking two rookie quarterbacks? One of two will probably be cut and not make any impact on the team. Typical for the Cleveland Browns as they totally fumbled the draft.
No. 2: New Orleans Saints
The Saints are my second loser from the 2025 NFL draft. Kelvin Banks Jr. Is a good player but I felt it was a bit of a reach. My big problem with the pick was the Saints are always taking linemen that end up not working out with their first round picks. They then took Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough. If they think he is the guy then okay, but he is 26-years-old and doesn’t have a lot of potential. I would have rather seen them take a swing on a guy like Jalen Milroe who has a much higher upside. It felt like this pick was to help them tank for a top pick next year.
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The 2025 Saints draft class ⚜️ pic.twitter.com/N0AZzWknff
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) April 27, 2025
If the Saints want to tank for next year to get a position of need in the second round then they should roll with second-year man Spencer Rattler, who showed flashes last year, is younger than Shough and has much more upside. They then reached on their next few picks with Vernon Broughton, Jonas Sanker and Danny Stutsman, all guys who I think will end up being career backups. The only selection I liked was grabbing Kansas running back Devin Neal in the sixth. He can be an explosive receiving back and I think Kellen Moore will use him in unique ways. Outside of that, the Saints set their rebuild back a few more years with their selections in this year’s draft.
No. 3: Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings didn’t have many picks in the draft, but what they did with them was very sub-par. With their first pick they reached on a guy that I don’t think was a top 50 prospect in Donovan Jackson to beef up their offensive line. He does not have great hands and did not match up against the top defensive lineman in the run game.
" I was very very excited to see Donovan's still available when our number came up" Coach O'Connell on selecting Donovan Jackson in the first round pic.twitter.com/XCuWs7j6zV
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) April 25, 2025
They then reached on WR Tai Felton in the third round. He only weighs 185 pounds and struggles in getting separation. There were much better wide receivers on the board. The rest of their picks were Tyion Ingram-Dawkins, Kobe King and Gavin Bartholomew, who I don’t view as great players or guys who can help the Vikings win games. Overall, I just felt the Vikings didn’t do much to help QB JJ McCarthy or help the team as a whole like they could have done.
I could be, and I hope I am, wrong on all these teams and selections, but based on who they picked, who was still available and team needs, these teams completely fumbled the draft.
