With the excitement of Draft weekend behind us, it is time to analyze each class and find my favorite pick made by every AFC team. This does not mean the best player they selected, obviously most of the best players went with teams’ first pick, but the majority of these players were great values that have a chance to be steals when we look back on these draft hauls several years from now.

AFC North

Bengals – Jalen Rivers, OL, Miami (Pick 153)

Jalen Rivers split time between LT and LG last season, often playing both in the same game. His versatility will be an asset in helping him find a role early. He has long arms and one of the strongest anchors in this class. Having played in Miami’s Air Raid offense, Rivers is used to a heavy pass protection-based scheme. His tape looks boring at times with how easily he wins in pass pro. With the Bengals’ needs at both starting Guard and Swing Tackle, expect Rivers to be in the mix at multiple spots during camp. He is an ideal fit for what the Bengals value on the OL. I had Rivers as a Round 3 talent, but he made it all the way to Cincinnati’s 5th round pick.

Steelers – Kaleb Johnson, RB, Iowa (Pick 83)

It is tough to imagine a more perfect landing spot for Kaleb Johnson. Johnson is the best zone scheme runner in the class and models his game after Derrick Henry. Pittsburgh just moved on from Najee Harris and OC Arthur Smith runs an outside zone scheme that got the best out of a young Derrick Henry in Tennessee. Johnson can be a bellcow for Pittsburgh immediately.

Browns – Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado (Pick 144)

A lack of maturity and preparedness throughout the draft process came back to haunt Sanders, but hopefully that was a wake-up call for him. Sanders will have to put his head down and work to even make the roster in a crowded Browns’ QB room. It is well worth the gamble in round 5 for a player I view as a round 2 talent on the field. There is pretty much no downside to this pick for Cleveland who can cut bait if things do not work out.

Ravens – Aeneas Peebles, DT, Virginia Tech (Pick 210)

Aeneas Peebles is one of my favorite players in the class. An undersized DT, Peebles doesn’t fit all the thresholds teams look for at the position, but he just knows how to pressure QBs. Peebles led all college DTs in PFF Pass Rush Grade and Pass Rush Win Rate in 2024. Make him a pass rush specialist early on and let him do what he does best. I saw him as a Day 2 talent. 

AFC West

Chiefs – Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State (Pick 32)

Simmons falling into the Chiefs lap was a dream scenario. Simmons, who is still recovering from a knee injury, had a chance to be in the first OT taken discussion had he stayed healthy this year. He allowed just 1 pressure, 0 hits, and 0 sacks in 158 pass blocking snaps in 2024. With Jaylon Moore and Jawaan Taylor as (expensive) stopgaps, Kansas City can give Simmons the time he needs to recover slowly. He has Pro Bowl upside if he can put it all together. 

Chargers – Jamaree Caldwell, DT, Oregon (Pick 86)

While Derrick Harmon (deservedly) received most of the praise for the Oregon DL, Jamaree Caldwell was the unsung hero. The 330+ pound Nose Tackle is an immovable object in the middle and clogs up running games. He also flashes some upside as a pass rusher which was on display more the previous season when he played for Houston. Caldwell will be a key space-eater for Harbaugh and Minter’s defense.

Raiders – Charles Grant, OT, William & Mary (Pick 99)

Vegas’ O-Line is in a good spot where they can let Grant develop behind the scenes. The former All-State wrestler is relatively new to football, but flashed great tools at the FCS level. His tape is some of the nastiness in this class, routinely throwing defenders around multiple times per game. He moves quite well for his size and has long arms. It will take Grant at least a year to get up to speed technically, but the upside is very real.

Broncos – Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas (Pick 20)

Jahdae Barron feels like one of the safest picks in Round 1. Texas played him in a variety of roles the last 3 seasons including Strong Safety, Slot CB, and Outside CB. The reigning Thorpe Award winner should start in the slot from day 1 in Denver and can be used all over. Simply put, Barron is a playmaker that makes any defense better. Adding him to a secondary that already features reigning DPOY Pat Surtain II is extremely fun.

AFC East

Bills – TJ Sanders, DT, South Carolina (Pick 41)

For as deep as the DT class was, it was hard to find pass rushers outside of the top few names in Round 1. Sanders was the best of the rest. The production and athleticism show upside to be an impact pass rusher early in the NFL. On third downs, Sanders and Ed Oliver will form a formidable interior duo.

Dolphins – Jonah Savaiinaea, OL, Arizona (Pick 37)

It is no secret that Miami needs a lot of help on the O-Line. Saviinaea is a versatile player that has played LT, RT, and Guard throughout college. He is already a good pass protector and tested like an elite athlete which fits perfectly in Mike McDonald’s outside zone scheme. Expect him to slide in at Left Guard for Liam Eichenberg and be a solid starter right away. If he can develop and learn to spend less time on the ground, the potential is very high. 

Patriots – Bradyn Swinson, EDGE, LSU (Pick 146)

Simply put, Bradyn Swinson is one of the best pass rushers in this class. His 22.1% Pass Rush Win Rate ranked 6^th in the nation among all EDGEs. There were murmurs that he butted heads with coaches which may have led to him slipping down boards, but a no-nonsense coach like Mike Vrabel might be exactly what he needs. I had Swinson ranked as a top 40 player in the class and if he is bought in, he will be a steal for New England.

Jets – Azareye’h Thomas, CB, Florida State (Pick 73)

Before his pro day, there was buzz for Thomas sneaking into late Round 1. After running in the high 4.5s, he fell all the way to Round 3. At 6’1.5”, 197-pounds, Thomas’ game is not one built around long speed. He is one of the best man-to-man CBs in a class full of zone guys. He uses his long arms and big hands to be a menace in press-man coverage. Having Thomas on one side and Sauce Gardner on the other lets New York play as much man coverage as they want.

AFC South

Titans – Kevin Winston Jr., S, Penn State (Pick 82)

Had Kevin Winston Jr. stayed healthy this season, he would have had a chance to be a Top 40 pick. Instead, he falls all the way to pick 82 and offers Tennessee immense upside. It will take time for Winston to reach his potential. Not only is he recovering from a knee injury, but he played less than 700 career college snaps. However, the tape that he does have is very good. Winston profiles as a prototypical strong Safety and was the best tackler of any Safety in this class. He more than holds his own in coverage, even if his instincts are not totally there yet. If Winston becomes a star by year 3, do not be surprised. 

Jaguars – Wyatt Milum, G, West Virginia (Pick 89)

Playing Left Tackle for the Mountaineers, Milum posted a 91.0 PFF Blocking Grade (2^nd in the nation among OTs) and a 92.5 Pass Blocking Grade (1^st). He will have to shift inside to Guard, adjust his stance to be less upright, and hold up in more true pass sets, but he is undeniably a good player. Much like his former teammate Zach Frazier, Milum is tough and nasty and an above average athlete. I will bet on a clean profile like Milum all day long.

Texans – Aireontae Ersery, OT, Minnesota (Pick 48)

The hulking 6’6”, 331-pound Ersery tested like an elite athlete with a 9.42 RAS. He put up two straight great years at LT for the Gophers and fills a desperate need as a blindside protector for CJ Stroud. Houston traded Laremy Tunsil away this offseason, and Ersery offers first round upside at pick 48. He was the last OT on the board that profiled as a year 1 starter at OT. Great work from the Texans to snag him.

Colts – Jalen Travis, OT, Iowa State (Pick 127)

Chris Ballard loves athletes, and he got one of the toolsiest OTs in the draft with Travis. A former basketball player like his brothers, you may remember Reid Travis from Kentucky’s 2019 Elite 8 Squad, Travis spent 3 years at Princeton. After getting his degree, he transferred to Iowa State and immediately filled in as starting LT. His 85.8 PFF Pass Block Grade put him among the best in the country. While he is not a finished product, at 6’8”, 339, with 35-inch arms and a 9.91 RAS, it is hard to see how Travis does not become a starting OT by the end of his rookie deal.