Houston Texans: B+
Remember, the Texans didn’t have a pick in either of the first two rounds of the 2018 draft due to the Deshaun Watson deal. Coming away with Justin Reid in Round 3, with their first selection, was excellent value for Houston.
They were also able to find some underrated talent on Day 3. Keke Coutee looks like a potential starting wide receiver. Duke Ejiofor showed signs of being a quality pass rusher. There aren’t a lot of stars in this group, but it was a solid use of resources by the Texans.
Indianapolis Colts: A
The Colts might be the biggest winners from last year’s draft. Quenton Nelson played like a Pro Bowler at guard during his rookie season. Grabbing Darius Leonard in the second round might have been the best single pick of the year.
Even Braden Smith emerged as a solid starter by the end of the year. Simply put, the Colts found both quality and quantity in this class. GM Chris Ballard will find it difficult to top what he did in 2018.
Jacksonville Jaguars: D
The Jaguars should have taken a potential franchise quarterback in this draft and they stubbornly clung to the idea that Blake Bortles was a decent starter. Even apart from that flaw, this was not a good class.
Taven Bryan and Ronnie Harrison might become solid starters, but neither was all that productive as a rookie. D.J. Chark was practically invisible for a second round selection. This draft class is a big reason why the Jaguars took a big step back last season.
Tennessee Titans: D-
When you have four draft picks and only three make the team, it’s pretty difficult to secure a good grade. That’s exactly what happened to the Titans when they cut quarterback Luke Falk.
Harold Landry might develop into an above average defensive end, but he looked like a specialist as a rookie. Rashaan Evans was OK at inside linebacker, but that’s not good value at No. 22 overall. The Titans need to do much better in the 2019 Draft if they want to take a step forward as a franchise.