draft news, not Rams related

from Grading NFL Draft 2025 first-round picks: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6301900/2025/04/24/nfl-draft-grades-2025-round-1-every-pick/?campaign=5888993&source=dailyemail&userId=603890

11. San Francisco 49ers: Mykel Williams, edge, Georgia
The 49ers needed a bookend to play with Nick Bosa, and Williams fits the description. After the 49ers lost a ton in free agency and were faced with salary-cap situations, this pick was more than solid — Williams can become a decade-long starter, if he stays healthy.

At Georgia last year, however, he dealt with repeated ankle issues, which kept his starts and rotational snaps down. But as a team captain, he was still productive (five sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss). Williams possesses huge arms (34 3/8 inches) and a giant wingspan (82 7/8 inches). He is a physical edge capable of moving anywhere along the line of scrimmage on passing downs.

Grade: A

16. Arizona Cardinals: Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss
The former top-ranked recruit in the country, Nolen is a twitched-up powerhouse with very strong hands and every trait a mauler needs. However, very little about his game, at either Texas A&M or Ole Miss, was consistent. He played hard but too often lost his assignment against the run, and he also didn’t have much of a plan in passing situations, other than to bull rush.

For as talented as he was (and his production improved a ton at Ole Miss), Nolen often left you wanting more. Selecting him ahead of Derrick Harmon is certainly interesting, but Arizona clearly believes it can smooth out Nolen’s rough spots and help him grow into a star. Still, this feels like a bit of a reach given the other talent on the board, including at defensive tackle.

Grade: B-minus

8. Seattle Seahawks: Grey Zabel, G/C, North Dakota State
One of the smartest players in this class, Zabel played every position along the offensive line in college — and did so at a high level. He turned down big-time NIL money to stay at North Dakota State, then ultimately dominated at the Senior Bowl as arguably the best offensive lineman there.

For a team like Seattle, which has been trying to fix the interior of its offensive line for a half-decade now, this feels like an elite pick. Zabel (who helped run his family farm in college and will continue to do so during NFL offseasons) is one of the draft’s hardest workers. He’s a high-floor player who fills multiple needs for the Seahawks — an awesome pick here and a great fit.

Grade: A-plus

26. Atlanta Falcons (from LAR): James Pearce Jr., edge, Tennessee
The Falcons gave up a lot to move up into the bottom of the first round — a 2026 first-round pick plus Nos. 46 and 242 this year for Nos. 25 and 101. And they selected one of the more polarizing players in this draft class. On talent alone, Pearce is absolutely a first-rounder, but teams may have dropped him down their boards after reports of coachability and consistency issues during his time at Tennessee. He’s a dynamic pass rusher, but he also might give up a bit against the run.

It’s not a problem that the Falcons like Pearce and his potential, but this was sort of a strange move, especially after the Falcons took Walker at 15. If the Falcons feel comfortable with Pearce’s character, this pick was more than fine. But they gave up a ton to make it — and the Rams have to feel pretty good about their end of the swap.

Grade: C-plus