The first round of the NFL Draft is sizzle, but Friday nights are steak. The truth is said, it should not be that While it’s hard to find decent talent in the opening night of the draft, two of the nights are where we see the team really differentiated when it comes to quality in the scouting department and the discipline to keep the boards effectively.
Discipline is the word of the day when it comes to these rounds. It’s semi-easy to project someone available to the first person, but it’s especially likely that the second player can use the first round grade. Skills are where you play chicken on the board and don’t rush through the process.
Winner: Cleveland Browns
Don’t remove bait by trading from this pick and gaining elite talent at the top of the second round with Carson Schwessinger instead. One of the scouts I spoke to before the draft was attacking the UCLA linebacker, comparing his football IQ and diagnosis to Luke Quechley.
Schwesinger doesn’t have the athletic ability of Kuechly’s first step, so he pumps the brakes with a touch, but he has to be a tackle machine in the box and quickly becomes a fan favorite.
The decision to bring Quinshon Judkins to his teammate Treveyon Henderson at running back might have been a scratching touch on the head, but that’s the more I think about it, the more I like it. Judkins is running around in a very brown colour and for the team who has built themselves around Nick Chubb, I am a more physical, bruised RB and can run through linebackers in Blitz situations.
I also like the move to bring Harold Fanin Jr. He’s a monopod pony as a TE, but I like the approach of finding two of the three really good traits rather than half-hearted talent. Fanin is one of those who are bigger receivers than true tight ends and he’s not going to block well, but he’s young, moldable and can contribute to the gadget package.
Update: Shortly after I finished writing this, the Browns took Dilongabriel in the third round of the draft. I’m very tempted to remove them as winners, but I’ll leave this to you for future generations.
Loser: New Orleans Saints
I don’t know what this franchise is doing. This was the organization that reached out to Kelvin Banks’ Night 1, then acquired an old mid-half quarterback at Tyler Shaff. It’s like there’s no vision, just throwing darts on the board.
There is justification to wait for a QB. Especially when there is a hole like a saint. I don’t know what Brandon Weeden 2.0 is doing for you.
Blastac: Looking for a team to improve in 2 days. I don’t know if Saints are a much better team than a week ago.
Winner: Carolina Panthers
There were plenty of frowned brows when Carolina chose to take Tetaro Amakumillan on the pick at No. 8 rather than dealing with the horrifying pass rush. From the second day onwards, the Panthers have been laughing.
The team got two very good pass rushers at Nic Scourton (who can become an instant starter) and third in Princess Uman Milen. This was a team that had a still-aged Jadabeon Crowney on the roster, so they found a way to attract young people and stop the bleeding at the edge.
This is when all three picks need to meet BPA, and the Panthers took a monumental step on both sides of the ball without resisting the future by trading picks in 2026.
Winner: Dallas Cowboys
Just as Dallas disliked what he did in the first round, he’s become obsessed with this team’s pick on the second day. Donovan Ezeruak and Savon Rebel Jr. both had the talent to become the first round pick, but fell for a variety of reasons.
If the level is completely healed, he can become a different maker. As for Ezeruak, I don’t know how he followed the second round. He is a baller, and he adds an incredible complement to Mika Parsons and opens up even more pass rushes.
These picks were enough to make a potential winner for Dallas throughout the draft.
