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Well, CBS likes the Rams’ draft better than anyone else’s in the division. I’ll put the Rams in the “general draft grades” thread, and the Enemies List here:
Arizona had a clear plan in this draft: Build a running game. The Cardinals went running back–interior lineman with their first two picks. But then they took a quarterback. That’s not a shock, but what is questionable is taking Carson Beck rather than making a move for Ty Simpson in Round 1.Beck’s arm is a real concern following a senior year at Miami in which he struggled to hit some deep throws. His UCL injury at the end of his Georgia career also clouds his long-term future. That’s not quite the sure thing a team would prefer when taking what it hopes is a franchise signal-caller.
Earlier, the Cardinals were about as aggressive as they could have been at No. 3. They made Jeremiyah Love the first running back selected in the top five since Saquon Barkley went second overall in 2018. They are now heavily invested in the position even though they don’t have a long-term quarterback, which makes this a “C+” pick, according to Renner. That is no knock on Love, though. Many analysts view him as the best player in the draft, and he has superstar potential.
The 49ers fielded calls for the No. 33 pick all day Friday, according to multiple reports, but elected to keep the second round’s first pick when they did not receive an enticing enough offer. They used it to continue reshaping their receiving corps with the selection of De’Zhaun Stribling. The Ole Miss product joins Mike Evans as a newcomer in a new-look group — one that seems certain to lose Brandon Aiyuk and has already said goodbye to Jauan Jennings.Rounds 3 and 4 are where the 49ers addressed their significant need on the defensive front. Romello Height was one of many disruptors on the dominant Texas Tech line last year and is both a depth addition and an upside pick for a team that could not stay healthy on the edge in 2025. Gracen Halton, meanwhile, bolsters the interior.
The third round is also where they made a less-than-inspiring pick at running back. In a perfect world, Kaelon Black will be nothing more than a backup to Christian McCaffrey for the next few years.
In a vacuum, the first round is probably a bit early to take the No. 2 running back in this class. It works for the Seahawks, however, because they’re in a unique position as the reigning Super Bowl champions with very few needs.Running back is the most glaring of those deficiencies with Kenneth Walker III out the door and Zach Charbonnet likely to miss a sizable chunk of 2026 as he recovers from a torn ACL. Seattle could afford to reach a bit to round out what it hopes is another championship roster, and Price is such a talented ball carrier that nobody batted an eye at the selection.
The safety and cornerback additions addressed the Seahawks’ two next-biggest deficiencies. That’s textbook drafting.
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