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NFL Draft Grades: AFC Teams

Grading every AFC team’s 2025 NFL Draft: Best picks, biggest steals and key takeaways

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Sep 9
Sep 9

By Patrick Weider 

The NFL Draft is hard to determine how well someone’s draft went when the draft ends. It takes years to determine the success or failure of draft picks. With that being said, I gave every team in the AFC a grade for the 2025 NFL Draft. 

Baltimore Ravens: A

In typical Ravens fashion, they nailed the 2025 NFL Draft. They stayed patient with their first-round pick, and they landed a good prospect in safety Malaki Starks. Starks should be an immediate starter. They also landed edge defender Mike Green in the second round when many had him going in the first round. They also drafted a field goal kicker for the first time in the fifth round because of the situation with Justin Tucker. Overall, it was a great performance for the Ravens. 

Best Pick: Malaki Starks, Georgia, S

Starks should start immediately at the safety position opposite Kyle Hamilton, and they should create a dynamic duo at the safety position. 

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Buffalo Bills: B+

Overall, no big gripes for the Bills draft, but I think they could still use an upgrade at the wide receiver position. They went defense with their first four picks, which I can understand why as the defense struggled last year. I like their first pick in cornerback Maxwell Hairston, who should help the secondary next season. A good draft for sure for the Bills, but I preferred a wide receiver early. 

Best pick: Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky, CB

Hairston is a good cornerback who should come in and start and make an impact immediately. 

Cincinnati Bengals: B

The Bengals had a solid draft. They started the draft by taking edge defender Shemar Stewart. He has a chance to be a good player, but his production never matched his talent. The Bengals focused on defense by drafting three of their first four picks on defense. A good class, but nothing pops up as extraordinary. 

Best pick: Demetrius Knight Jr., South Carolina, LB

The Bengals needed an upgrade on defense, and they got a good linebacker in Knight. He should start and contribute right away for them. 

Cleveland Browns: B+

The Browns had a good draft overall, but did make a few puzzling decisions. Ultimately, this draft will be determined if it is a success or failure by how good a player Travis Hunter is, since they traded out of the No. 2 overall pick instead of drafting him. The haul they got from the Jacksonville Jaguars was impressive, including the fifth pick this draft, their second round pick and the Jaguars’ first round pick in the 2026 draft. My friend said it best, if Hunter is a Hall of Fame player, the Browns will lose this draft, but overall, I think the draft was a success for the Browns, and they filled many holes. 

Best Pick: Mason Graham, Michigan, DT

Cleveland selected Graham with the No.5 overall pick they got from the Jaguars. This is a great selection, and he could be a difference maker for the Browns. 

Denver Broncos: A

The Broncos are a team on the rise, and I came away impressed with their draft. I am a huge believer in first-round pick Jahdae Barron. He is a good defensive back. I also think their second-round pick RJ Harvey is an excellent running back. They also took a punter in the sixth round in Jeremy Crawshaw. An excellent class for the Broncos. 

Best Pick: Jahdae Barron, Texas, DB

The Thorpe award winner from last year is a talented defensive back who I expect will make a big impact for the Broncos’ secondary. 

Houston Texans: C+

The Texans have a massive hole at left tackle after they traded Laremy Tunsil to the Washington Commanders. They were sitting at pick No. 25 and could have taken left tackle Josh Connerly or Josh Simmons. Instead, they traded out of the pick to the New York Giants. They did eventually get a left tackle in Aireontae Ersery, but he is not as good as the two prospects I mentioned above. 

Best Pick: Jayden Higgins, Iowa State, WR

I like the pick of Higgins. He is a big physical wide receiver who will give quarterback CJ Stroud another weapon to throw to.

Indianapolis Colts: A

The Colts had a good draft. I love the first round pick of Tyler Warren as he is a difference maker at tight end. I also liked the edge defender JT Tuimoloau pick, and running back DJ Giddens. A good draft for the Colts. 

Best Pick: Tyler Warren, Penn State, TE

Warren is a beast at tight end and should help the Colts’ offense. 

Jacksonville Jaguars: B+

Ultimately, this draft grade will be heavily decided by how good a player Hunter is. If he is an All-Pro player who changes the game by playing both sides of the ball, this draft grade will be an A+. 

Best Pick: Travis Hunter, Colorado, DB/WR

Hunter has a chance to be a special player for the Jaguars.

Kansas City Chiefs: B

This grade is based on a lot of how Josh Simmons turns out as a player. He has massive risks with him coming off a torn patellar tendon. If he turns into a good starting left tackle the risk would be worth it. After that, the rest of the picks were good as they went three straight defense players with the next three picks. 

Best Pick: Omarr Norman-Lott, Tennessee, DT

I like this pick, a defensive tackle who can rush the passer and play alongside star defensive tackle Chris Jones. 

Los Angeles Chargers: B+

The Los Angeles Chargers did a good job drafting, and they landed an excellent running back in Omarion Hampton with their first-round pick. I also liked how they drafted two wide receivers in the draft with Tre Harris and KeAndre Lambert-Smith. Both players could contribute to the Chargers.

Best Pick: Omarion Hampton, North Carolina, RB

Hampton has a chance to be a good running back going forward. 

Las Vegas Raiders: B+

I thought the Las Vegas Raiders did a good job making smart selections. Their first two picks I like a lot. In the first round, Ashton Jeanty is a home run pick as a running back. Then they took Jack Bech at wide receiver. They then drafted two offensive tackles to help improve the offensive line. 

Best Pick: Ashton Jeanty, Boise State, RB

Jeanty is a good running back who should immediately improve the Raiders’ run game. 

Miami Dolphins: A

The Miami Dolphins had a good draft. They started it off by picking defensive tackle Kenneth Grant, who is an excellent player. Offensive guard Jonah Savaiinaea was drafted in the second round and is a talented offensive lineman. I even liked sixth-round pick running back Ollie Gordon and seventh-round quarterback Quinn Ewers. 

Best Pick: Jonah Savaiinaea, Arizona, OG

Savaiinaea is a mauler in the run game, and he should help protect quarterback Tua Tagovailoa as well. 

New England Patriots: A

The Patriots nailed the 2025 draft. First pick Will Campbell has a chance at being the staple on the Patriots’ offensive line for a long time. Then running back TreVeyon Henderson was a huge pick as he added speed and playmaking to an offense that needs it. Overall, a great draft for the Patriots. 

Best Pick: TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State, RB

Henderson is an explosive running back who should be able to help the Patriots’ offense. 

New York Jets: A

The Jets did a good job drafting this year. I love their first two picks. First-round pick Armand Membou has a chance to be a special right tackle. Second-round, Mason Taylor is a legit tight end who should be able to be a consistent target for new quarterback Justin Fields.

Best Pick: Mason Taylor, LSU, TE

Taylor has a chance to be a good tight end for a long time. 

Pittsburgh Steelers: B+

Overall, a good draft for the Steelers, like most years, but I ding them a little bit because they didn’t draft a quarterback until late. I love their first two picks, defensive tackle Derrick Harmon and running back Kaleb Johnson. Also, they need to factor in trading a second round pick for talented wide receiver DK Metcalf. 

Best Pick: Derrick Harmon, Oregon, DT

Harmon is a talented defensive tackle who should make an immediate impact. 

Tennessee Titans: B+

This draft all comes down to whether Cam Ward develops as a legit starting quarterback. I am not sure how well he does, but he has the potential to be a good quarterback for a long time. 

Best Pick: Cam Ward, Miami, QB

The best quarterback in the draft went No. 1 overall to Tennessee. 

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