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2024 NFL Draft grades: Mel Kiper reviews selections for all 32 teams

Originally posted on 5 GOATs | By Nikki Chavanelle | Last updated 4/29/24

Following the 2024 NFL Draft, ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. has graded the performance of all 32 NFL teams. With 257 picks in the books, the draft guru broke down how he feels each team did adding talent to their roster for this season and beyond.

Kiper used his pre-draft Big Board and position rankings to gauge “how effectively” each team addressed key roster holes. He also based his grades on how well each team maneuvered the board with their picks and how they added extra selections or future draft capital.

Here’s a look at the teams that Kiper believes did the best in this year’s draft, as well as the grades for all 32 teams. Note that no team earned lower than a C for their performance this cycle – even the Atlanta Falcons, who were widely panned for taking quarterback Michael Penix at No. 8 overall, despite having Kirk Cousins on a mega-deal.

Arizona Cardinals – A

Entering the draft with 11 selections, the Arizona Cardinals ended up making 12 picks over the weekend, including former Buckeyes star Marvin Harrison Jr. at No. 4 overall. Kiper called the Cardinals’ 2024 draft class “well-rounded” and “super-talented.”

1(4)	Marvin Harrison Jr.	WR	Ohio State
1(27)	Darius Robinson	EDGE	Missouri
2(11)	Max Melton	CB	Rutgers
3(2)	Trey Benson	RB	Florida State
3(7)	Isaiah Adams	OT	Illinois
3(18)	Tip Reiman	TE	Illinois
3(27)	Elijah Jones	CB	Boston College
4(4)	Dadrion Taylor-Demerson	S	Texas Tech
5(3)	Xavier Thomas	EDGE	Clemson
5(27)	Christian Jones	OT	Texas
6(15)	Tejhaun Palmer	WR	UAB
7(6)	Jaden Davis	CB	Miami

Philadelphia Eagles – A

The Philadelphia Eagles made huge progress towards re-vamping the defense by taking two of the draft’s top-graded cornerbacks. They also made gains for next year’s draft as well, which is why they earned the only other A in the draft from Kiper.

1/22	Quinyon Mitchell	CB	Toledo
2/40	Cooper DeJean	CB	Iowa
3/94	Jalyx Hunt	EDGE	Houston Christian
4/127	Will Shipley	RB	Clemson
5/152	Ainias Smith	WR	Texas A&M
5/155	Jeremiah Trotter Jr.	LB	Clemson
5/172	Trevor Keegan	G	Michigan
6/185	Johnny Wilson	WR	Florida State
6/190	Dylan McMahon	C	NC State

Pittsburgh Steelers – A-

The Pittsburgh Steelers only took seven new players in the 2024 NFL Draft, however, Kiper had high grades for many of their selections. Highlighted by two potential starters on the offensive line, the Steelers class doesn’t look like it has very many misses.

1/20	Troy Fautanu	OT	Washington
2/51	Zach Frazier	C	West Virginia
3/84	Roman Wilson	WR	Michigan
3/98	Payton Wilson	LB	NC State
4/119	Mason McCormick	G	South Dakota State
6/178	Logan Lee	DT	Iowa
6/195	Ryan Watts	CB	Texas

Washington Commanders – A-

Much of Mel Kiper’s grade for the Commanders’ performance this year hinges on the futures of quarterback Jayden Daniels and potential future starting tackle Brandon Coleman, however, there are wins up and down the class in terms of value. Washington was able to get five selections in the first 100 picks, including three in the top 55. The Commanders were the last team in Kiper’s grade book to receive an A.

1/2	Jayden Daniels	QB	LSU
2/36	Jer’Zhan Newton	DT	Illinois
2/50	Mike Sainristil	CB	Michigan
2/53	Ben Sinnott	TE	Kansas State
3/67	Brandon Coleman	OT	TCU
3/100	Luke McCaffrey	WR	Rice
5/139	Jordan Magee	LB	Temple
5/161	Dominique Hampton	S	Washington
7/222	Javontae Jean-Baptiste	EDGE	Notre Dame

Baltimore Ravens – B+

The Baltimore Ravens needed a talented draft haul to help them fill holes left by starters in the offseason and they hit on most of their needs in the first 100 picks. They lost Patrick Queen and Ronald Darby , and drafted Adisa Isaac and Nate Wiggins, two candidates in position to realistically fill those big shoes. Kiper also loved the team’s Day 3 moves.

1/30	Nate Wiggins	CB	Clemson
2/62	Roger Rosengarten	OT	Washington
3/93	Adisa Isaac	LB	Penn State
4/113	Devontez Walker	WR	North Carolina
4/130	T.J. Tampa	CB	Iowa State
5/165	Rasheen Ali	RB	Marshall
6/218	Devin Leary	QB	Kentucky
7/228	Nick Samac	C	Michigan State
7/250	Sanoussi Kane	S	Purdue

Houston Texans – B+

After taking the second and third overall picks in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Houston Texans couldn’t make a similar splash in 2024 – not on Night 1 anyway. Even still, Mel Kiper calls the Texans’ class, “solid, if unspectacular.” He especially liked what Houston got with their first four selections, including Kamari Lassiter and Blake Fisher, whom they got at a great value.

2/42	Kamari Lassiter	CB	Georgia
2/59	Blake Fisher	OT	Notre Dame
3/78	Calen Bullock	S	USC
4/123	Cade Stover	TE	Ohio State
6/188	Jamal Hill	LB	Oregon
6/205	Jawhar Jordan	RB	Louisville
7/238	Solomon Byrd	EDGE	USC
7/247	Marcus Harris	DT	Auburn
7/249	LaDarius Henderson	OT	Michigan

Kansas City Chiefs – B+

Though Mel Kiper doesn’t love that the Chiefs had to trade up for their first two picks, he still likes the end result. Xavier Worthy and Kingsley Suamataia’s success with the Chiefs over the next few years will end up greatly impacting whether or not they deserve their grade for the 2024 class.

1/28	Xavier Worthy	WR	Texas
2/63	Kingsley Suamataia	OT	BYU
4/131	Jared Wiley	TE	TCU
4/133	Jaden Hicks	S	Washington State
5/159	Hunter Nourzad	C	Penn State
6/211	Kamal Hadden	CB	Tennessee
7/248	C.J. Hanson	G	Holy Cross

Los Angeles Chargers – B+

Mel Kiper questioned the Chargers’ decision not to get a first-round wide receiver for Justin Herbert, but in the end, the team added a potential All-Pro tackle and three wide receivers. The Ladd McConkey addition was a favorite on day two, but the ESPN analyst is still holding out for Jim Harbaugh to make a post-draft move to help the offense in Year 1.

1/5	Joe Alt	OT	Notre Dame
2/34	Ladd McConkey	WR	Georgia
3/69	Junior Colson	LB	Michigan
4/105	Justin Eboigbe	DT	Alabama
5/137	Tarheeb Still	CB	Maryland
5/140	Cam Hart	CB	Notre Dame
6/181	Kimani Vidal	RB	Troy
7/225	Brenden Rice	WR	USC
7/253	Cornelius Johnson	WR	Michigan

Los Angeles Rams – B+

There’s no doubt the L.A. Rams got better in the 2024 NFL Draft. They took the draft’s “most complete” edge rusher in Jared Verse, according to Kiper, but gave up too much for Braden Fiske. To trade up for him, they exchanged a 2025 second-round pick, No. 52, as well as pick No. 155 next year. Without that loss in value, the ESPN analyst would have given the Rams an A-.

1/19	Jared Verse	EDGE	Florida State
2/39	Braden Fiske	DT	Florida State
3/83	Blake Corum	RB	Michigan
3/99	Kamren Kinchens	S	Miami
5/154	Brennan Jackson	EDGE	Washington State
6/196	Tyler Davis	DT	Clemson
6/209	Joshua Karty	K	Stanford
6/213	Jordan Whittington	WR	Texas
6/217	Beaux Limmer	C	Arkansas
7/254	KT Leveston	G	Kansas State

Buffalo Bills – B

The Buffalo Bills’ 10-man draft class earned a B from Kiper, despite being “good, not great.” They certainly added a few winners in the group, but the ESPN analyst is really hoping Keon Coleman can be a top option for Josh Allen after the departure of Stefon Diggs. He needs to have a great career, or the Bills will forever be remembered for having traded with the Chiefs so their enemies could get Xavier Worthy.

2/33	Keon Coleman	WR	Florida State
2/60	Cole Bishop	S	Utah
3/95	DeWayne Carter	DT	Duke
4/128	Ray Davis	RB	Kentucky
5/141	Sedrick Van Pran-Granger	C	Georgia
5/160	Edefuan Ulofoshio	LB	Washington
5/168	Javon Solomon	EDGE	Troy
6/204	Tylan Grable	OT	UCF
6/219	Daequan Hardy	CB	Penn State
7/221	Travis Clayton	G	International

More 2024 NFL Draft grades

Chicago Bears – B
Cincinnati Bengals – B
Detroit Lions – B
Green Bay Packers – B
Indianapolis Colts – B
Las Vegas Raiders – B
New England Patriots – B
New Orleans Saints – B
Miami Dolphins – B
New York Giants – B
New York Jets – B
Tampa Bay Buccaneers – B
Carolina Panthers – B-
Dallas Cowboys – B-
Jacksonville Jaguars – B-
San Francisco 49ers – B-
Seattle Seahawks – B-
Cleveland Browns – C+
Denver Broncos – C+
Minnesota Vikings – C+
Tennessee Titans – C+
Atlanta Falcons – C