No NFL workforce ever believes it takes an L throughout draft week. Theoretically, that is sensible as a result of no workforce’s expertise degree ought to lower whereas selecting via the most effective gamers faculty soccer has to supply.
However some groups clearly benefited greater than others this weekend in Inexperienced Bay. Slightly than level out the groups that didn’t get a lot finished (cough, New Orleans Saints, cough), we’re maintaining it constructive and spotlighting the squads that had essentially the most success.
1. Jacksonville Jaguars
Many NFL specialists consider new Jaguars normal supervisor James Gladstone overpaid when he primarily despatched the Cleveland Browns subsequent 12 months’s first-round choose and this 12 months’s No. 36 general choose simply to maneuver up three spots in Thursday night time’s first spherical. However when the prize is Travis Hunter, how do you criticize making that deal?
Hunter was considered the most effective receiver and finest cornerback within the draft — and he’s wanting to be an everyday on either side of the ball. Even when he solely performs 75 % of the snaps on either side, you’re getting an elite athlete giving 150% — shattering the earlier NFL file of 110% held by nearly each different participant in historical past.
Simply as essential, the 34-year-old Gladstone and new coach Liam Coen have given the Jags fanbase actual hope. After years of being jacked round — house video games outsourced to London, wins outsourced to most opponents, and so on. — followers lastly have a cause to be jacked up.
2. Arizona Cardinals
Apr 24, 2025; Inexperienced Bay, WI, USA; Michigan Wolverines cornerback Will Johnson on the purple carpet earlier than the 2025 NFL Draft at Lambeau Discipline. Obligatory Credit score: Kirby Lee-Imagn Photographs On the naked minimal, the Cardinals are going to dominate the Huge Ten this fall. After they grabbed All-American defensive sort out Walter Nolen within the first spherical, they jumped on elite cornerback Will Johnson (Michigan), lightning-quick edge rusher Jordan Burch (Oregon), productive linebacker Cody Simon (Ohio State) and four-year beginning cornerback Denzel Burke (additionally from nationwide champion Ohio State).
That’s numerous ready-to-deploy ammo for head coach Jonathan Gannon’s defense, which was middle-of-the-pack final 12 months (fifteenth in factors, twenty first in yards). It doesn’t take a lot to mission the Cardinals incomes simply their second playoff berth within the final 10 seasons.
3. Chicago Bears
Mar 1, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Boston Faculty offensive lineman Ozzy Trapilo (OL42) solutions questions at a press convention in the course of the 2025 NFL Mix at Indiana Conference Heart. Obligatory Credit score: Jacob Musselman-Imagn Photographs New coach Ben Johnson had a lot enjoyable operating the NFL’s highest-scoring offense in Detroit, he’s doing his finest to copy that personnel with the Bears. He snagged his new Sam LaPorta — Michigan tight finish Colston Loveland, who had 17 TDs and 146 catches in two years. Per NFL insider Ian Rapoport, a number of groups had been attempting to commerce as much as get the 6-foot-6, 248-pound freak.
Then the Bears doubled down on distinctive offensive weapons by grabbing elusive Missouri receiver Luther Burden III within the second spherical. Although the mix confirmed he has tiny fingers, infinite video confirms he’s actually arduous to get to the bottom as soon as he will get the ball in these mitts.
Caleb Williams now has D.J. Moore, Rome Odunze, Cole Kmet, Loveland and Burden on his radar. He additionally welcomes second-round choose offensive sort out Ozzy Trapilo to spice up an O-line that added a number of free brokers. Now it’s time to search out an RB buddy to go together with D’Andre Swift.
4. Las Vegas Raiders
Apr 25, 2025; Henderson, NV, USA; Las Vegas Raiders first spherical draft choose within the 2025 NFL Draft Ashton Jeanty, speaks to the media at Intermountain Well being Efficiency Heart. Obligatory Credit score: Candice Ward-Imagn Photographs The Bears won’t ever admit it, however they gladly would have bypassed Loveland if operating again Ashton Jeanty had in some way fallen to No. 10. As a substitute, the Raiders scored this franchise again with the sixth general choose. He runs, he catches, he by no means dies straightforward a la Walter Payton.
Higher but for the Raiders — whose final playoff win (Jan. 19, 2003) got here 11 months earlier than Jeanty was born — they added a number of extra affect gamers on offense in glue-handed Jack Bech (TCU), tall burner Dont’e Thornton Jr. (Tennessee), and offensive linemen Caleb Rogers and Charles Grant. Cornerback Darien Porter, a former receiver, blazed a 4.3-second 40 on the mix.
5. New England Patriots
Sep 7, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes operating again TreVeyon Henderson (32) runs for a landing towards the Western Michigan Broncos in the course of the second half at Ohio Stadium. Obligatory Credit score: Adam Cairns-Imagn Photographs New coach Mike Vrabel will get to mildew the draft’s finest offensive sort out (Will Campbell), an immediate do-it-all operating again (TreVeyon Henderson), a flexible big-play receiver (Kyle Williams) and a few speedy assist for the protection, too.
We’re not saying Vrabel will lead the Pats to the playoffs in his first 12 months — there’s numerous floor to make up — however we’re saying they’ve finished the suitable issues to assist second-year quarterback Drake Maye lead the workforce towards a brighter tomorrow.
