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NFL Draft grades: Cowboys, Buccaneers get high marks

By Rucker Haringey

NORMAN, OK - SEPTEMBER 22: CeeDee Lamb #2 of the Oklahoma Sooners catches the game winning touchdown against the Army West Point Black Knights at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on September 22, 2018 in Norman, Oklahoma. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images)
NORMAN, OK - SEPTEMBER 22: CeeDee Lamb #2 of the Oklahoma Sooners catches the game winning touchdown against the Army West Point Black Knights at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on September 22, 2018 in Norman, Oklahoma. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images) /
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Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
LSU Football (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /

Baltimore Ravens: A-

The Ravens didn’t have a high pick in the draft but they still managed to come away with high end talent. Patrick Queen will elevate their linebacking corps right away. J.K. Dobbins could lead the running backs in rushing in 2020 too. Running backs may not be super valuable but Dobbins is going to really help take pressure off of Lamar Jackson.

Baltimore also scored major value in the third round. Justin Madubuike has a chance to develop into an above average starter at defensive tackle. Devin Duvernay can be a problem for opponents in the slot. The Ravens did more in Round 3 than a lot of their competitors did in Round 2.

The class gets bumped up for making one of the most valuable selections in Round 6 as well. James Proche just makes plays at the wide receiver position. He’ll find a way to do that early in his career for the Ravens. Chalk this up as another really good class for Baltimore.

Cincinnati Bengals: A-

The Bengals’ draft class will always be remembered for what Joe Burrow does at quarterback. He has star potential for Cincinnati and should help them win games right away.

Things didn’t go as well for the Bengals after that pick though. Tee Higgins’ lack of top-end speed will limit his potential at the next level. The franchise should have gotten more value at the top of Round 2.

Logan Wilson in the third round and Akeem Davis-Gaither in the fourth should help the Bengals next season, but neither has star potential. Cincinnati can be criticized for not executing the bottom of the draft at a high level, but grabbing Burrow at No. 1 is going to overshadow all of those issues.

Cleveland Browns: B+

The Browns entered the draft with a need to give Baker Mayfield more protection and Jedrick Wills will do that right away. He may experience some growing pains moving from right to left tackle, but he’s got the natural ability to make it work.

Grant Delpit struggles as a tackler, but he can make plays when he’s playing center field in the final third. It’s the second year in a row that Cleveland has benefited from questions about a LSU defensive back’s ability to tackle.

Donovan Peoples-Jones has a strong chance to grow into a contributor at wideout despite being a sixth round pick. The Browns didn’t draft a flamboyant class, but this group should really help Kevin Stefanski in his first season as the team’s head coach.

Pittsburgh Steelers: B

The Steelers know how to draft wide receivers and Chase Claypool has big-time talent. Don’t be surprised if he finds a way to become an immediate starter in Mike Tomlin’s offense.

Alex Highsmith was a reach in the third round. He’s a reasonably athletic linebacker but he’s not a guy who’s ready to rush the passer right away. The Steelers could have done better at the end of Day Two.

The Steelers did bounce back with really good value in Round 4. Kevin Dotson could grow into an above average starter at guard. That’s an important position in the Steelers offense. Credit Pittsburgh’s front office for executing a nice draft despite not having a first round pick.

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