Some of the major NFL Draft facelifts came via huge quantity -- the Dolphins made 13 picks, and given that the team is basically a blank slate, expect plenty of them to contribute early. Others are more based on the early picks. For example, the Giants made a splash with two picks in the top 10 (and three in the top 40), the Jets selected three first-rounders and the Browns used three picks in the top 40 and a potential major steal later on.
So what did each draft class say about the teams that made them? The NFL Draft gives teams not just a chance to improve their immediate future but also to shape their long-term outlook. Here's what we learned.
After several early trades down, the Bills made 10 picks. Six of the first eight were on defense, and that includes second-rounders T.J. Parker and Davison Igbinosun. Both should contribute immediately and help shore up the run defense, especially. Fourth-round pick Kaleb Elarms-Orr ran a 4.47 40-yard dash and could bring some juice to the linebacker group, and fourth-round safety/nickel; Jalon Kilgore adds good physicality, size, athleticism and positional versatility; he ran a 4.40 40.
Miami's 13 picks included selections at all three levels of the defense, three wide receivers and two tight ends. The Dolphins hurled a lot at the wall to see what sticks. They need their first-rounders -- massive tackle Kadyn Proctor and impressive cornerback Chris Johnson -- to stick. Jacob Rodriguez is a plug-and-play linebacker. But there's also a lot of intriguing longer-term guys. Third-round wide receiver Chris Bell Jr. might need a bit of time to get back to form. Fourth-round linebacker Kyle Louis is a tremendous athlete, but it could take a bit for him (and Miami) to figure out his best position. That's OK. This team has plenty of time to figure it out.
The Jets went with David Bailey second overall, giving Aaron Glenn an explosive pass rusher to work opposite Will McDonald IV. They added Kenyon Sadiq and Omar Cooper Jr. -- two guys who can be absolute terrors with the ball in their hands -- later in the first round but returned to Glenn's preferences by adding D'Angelo Ponds in the second round. Ponds is undersized but majorly talented and competitive, just like Glenn was at the same position. Add in talented defensive lineman Darrell Jackson Jr., and Glenn's defense got significant upgrades.
ESPN all but confirmed A.J. Brown will head to New England once June 1 passes, lessening their need at wide receiver. The Patriots instead took Utah left tackle Caleb Lomu with the 28th overall pick. Naturally, that led to questions about Will Campbell, who struggled in the playoffs after having knee surgery. Lomu, it should be noted, once took over at left tackle for Spencer Fano at Utah, and Fano ended up being the first lineman off the board in this year's draft. If he can replace that caliber of player, could he replace Campbell? The Patriots noted they liked Lomu's versatility, and right tackle Morgan Moses is 35.
The Bengals traded their first-round pick (No. 10 overall) to the Giants for Dexter Lawrence and then took edge rusher Cashius Howell in the second round. Lawrence is a truly unique interior pressure creator, and Howell is coming off an 11-sack, 14.5-TFL season at Texas A&M that earned him SEC Defensive Player of the Year. Third-round pick Tacario Davis is a size/speed monster at cornerback. The Bengals finished last in yards per play allowed last year; they're hoping to not let that happen again.
Maybe the Browns, in Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel, Deshaun Watson and sixth-round pick Taylen Green, have their quarterback of the future. But it's more likely that he comes in next year's draft. Regardless, the Browns got a stud tackle in Fano, a really fun YAC guy in KC Concepcion, a big target in Denzel Boston and another potential starting tackle in Austin Barber -- all in the top 100. Add in safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren -- a good defense helps a young quarterback, too! -- and this is a strong haul.
The Ravens' well-established reputation as one of the league's most physical teams took a bit of a hit last year. Enter first-round guard Olaivavega Ioane, an absolute mauler in the run game, and second-round EDGE Zion Young, who plays with uncommon intensity and sets a hell of an edge, and the Ravens desire to re-establish their physicality. Big contested-catch wide receivers Ja'Kobi Lane and Elijah Sarratt should help, too.
With the Aaron Rodgers situation still stuck in neutral with no end in sight, the Steelers were wisely not beholden to their enigmatic quarterback. First-round tackle Max Iheanachor has major upside, even if it takes a bit for him to reach it. Third-round quarterback Drew Allar is worth having in the mix regardless of whether Rodgers returns or not. On the other hand, second-round pick Germie Bernard could help immediately, given his versatility and balanced skill set, and third-round pick Gennings Dunker could be a plug-and-play on the offensive line.
The Colts tried to get Trey Hendrickson but lost out to the Ravens. That might have indicated a focus on EDGE rushers in the draft. Instead, Indianapolis addressed not the edges but the spine. CJ Allen (second round) and Bryce Boettcher (fourth round) could very well form the starting linebacker duo, and AJ Haulcy (third round) could start at safety alongside Cam Bynum.
One of the first things James Gladstone said when he got the Jaguars' GM gig was that he would be bold. He's certainly living up to it, especially in the draft. Last year, he moved up to take Travis Hunter. This year, they took ...
... in the first four rounds. Call it rightfully sticking to your board or wrongfully reaching, Gladstone certainly isn't shy.
The Texans spent much of the offseason upgrading their offensive line and then took the powerful, tough Keylan Rutledge in the first round. In the early second round, they made a terrific team-player match in defensive lineman Kayden McDonald. He's the best run stopper in the class, and now he's playing in between Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter in what will be absolute nightmare fuel for opponents.
The Titans took Carnell Tate No. 4 overall. He's one of the highest-floor offensive prospects in the class if one ever did exist. But I'll focus on the Titans trading back up into the first round to take intriguing EDGE Keldric Faulk and then getting rangy, athletic linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. Both have major physical tools and will have the advantage of playing with Jeffery Simmons, John Franklin-Myers, arguably the best interior defensive line duo in the NFL.
If not for a final-play ankle injury to Bo Nix, the Broncos very likely would have been in the Super Bowl. With no first-round pick (used in the Jaylen Waddle trade) nor second-round pick (traded back with the Bills), the Broncos nabbed Tyler Onyedim, who could help in the middle of the defensive line right away, at No. 66 overall. Then came bruising running back Jonah Coleman in the fourth round. Both should see some snaps and could provide the valuable depth every team needs during what they hope is a long season. Don't sleep on fifth-rounder Justin Joly, an athletic tight end with good straight-line speed, either.
Wide receiver was a need entering the draft and remains one. But the Chiefs focused on the other side of the ball, selecting cornerback Mansoor Delane sixth overall, defensive lineman Peter Woods 29th overall and EDGE R Mason Thomas 40th overall to begin their draft. In Delane, the Chiefs hope they found a top-tier replacement for Trent McDuffie in terms of one-on-one lockdown skill. In Woods, they hope to unlock a rare athlete who can capitalize on the attention Chris Jones draws. In Thomas, they're going with a different body type than they usually do -- he's a bit on the smaller, quicker side. All three should provide Steve Spagnuolo with what he needs to restore the defense.
The Chargers knew this coming into the offseason and are continuing to work on it. Second-round selection Jake Slaughter has only played center (where the Chargers already have Tyler Biadasz), but Los Angeles also got tackle Travis Burke in the fourth round and guards Logan Taylor and Alex Harkey in the sixth round. Don't be surprised if several of the rookie offensive linemen see action this season.
Think of the Raiders last year. There were reported internal clashes. Pete Carroll fired Chip Kelly months after making him the highest-paid offensive coordinator. Carroll got fired at season's end. Maxx Crosby didn't like how the organization ended his season prematurely over a knee injury.
Fast-forward to now. Super Bowl-winning offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak is the head coach, the ebullient Fernando Mendoza has arrived as the No. 1 overall pick, and the Raiders have worked hard to provide him with the support he needs. Then add in the selections of second-round safety Treydan Stukes (who was a major draft riser) and fourth-round cornerback Jermod McCoy (who fell due to injury concerns) and many others. The Raiders, who also traded away disappointing former top-10 Tyree Wilson, made 10 picks. The slate has been wiped clean for the franchise, and the possibilities, for now, are endless.