NFL Draft Grades: Round Three

Day Two of the NFL Draft was a wild one. We started out with a bunch of trades in round two and speculating where the remaining projected round one players would go. In round three, there was a heavy emphasis on interior o-linemen as well as a few notable quarterbacks that went off the board. Here are the grades for round three of the NFL Draft.

Round 3 Pick 65 Jacksonville Jaguars

Andre Cisco, S, Syracuse

Grade: C+

Andre Cisco could end up being a decent player, but there are a lot of questions surrounding his health right now. This grade is less about Cisco’s talent and more about the fact that they took Travis Etienne in the first round when Trevon Moehrig was still on the board.

Round 3 Pick 66 Minnesota Vikings

Kellen Mond, QB, Texas A&M

Grade: B

The Vikings had a whopping four picks in the third round, so using one to get a quality quarterback isn’t a bad choice. This is especially so if he proves to be the more mobile successor to Kirk Cousins.

Round 3 Pick 67 Houston Texans

Davis Mills, QB, Stanford

Grade: B+

This is just another indication that the Texans’ relationship with Deshaun Watson is beyond repair. Houston has already brought in Tyrod Taylor, so drafting Davis Mills to compete for that starting job is not a bad idea.

Round 3 Pick 68 Atlanta Falcons

Jalen Mayfield, OT, Michigan

Grade: B-

Atlanta needs to find a way to protect Matt Ryan, and Jalen Mayfield will help do that. He is a strong pass protector with all the measurements you love to see out of a tackle. He has the ability to line up on either side of the line too, so the Falcons have a lot of options here. Mayfield is a bit of a work in progress though, so we’ll see what his production looks like out of the gates. 

Round 3 Pick 69 Cincinnati Bengals

Joseph Ossai, EDGE, Texas

Grade: C

We’re through three rounds of picks for the Bengals, and still no real improvement has been made to their pass protection. Joseph Ossai is an athletic edge rusher that will help the front of Cincinnati’s defense, but that is not the biggest need for this team, especially with Brady Christensen still on the board.

Round 3 Pick 70 Carolina Panthers

Brady Christensen, OT, BYU

Grade: A

Sam Darnold may finally know what it’s like to have a quality offensive line in the NFL. Brady Christensen had historically great measurements at his Pro Day, and he anchored one of the best offensive lines in college football history. This may be a steal for Carolina.

Round 3 Pick 71 New York Giants

Aaron Robinson, CB, UCF

Grade: B+

The Giants came into this draft needing to find an edge rusher and a cornerback to play opposite of Leonard Williams and James Bradbury, and that’s exactly what they did. Aaron Robinson played a lot in the slot, but shockingly the majority of his snaps still came in press coverage. This makes you think that he may have potential as an outside corner. 

Round 3 Pick 72 Detroit Lions

Alim McNeil, DT, NC State

Grade: B

This is not a flashy pick by any stretch of the imagination, but Alim McNeil is a run stopper. This is a team that ranked among the bottom-five in both pass and run defense in 2020, and by taking DTs in back-to-back rounds, they seem committed to stopping the run.

Round 3 Pick 73 Philadelphia Eagles

Milton Williams, DT, Louisiana Tech

Grade: C-

Milton Williams was taken this high because of a ridiculous Pro Day. He is probably not a day one starter, though, and immediate help is what this Philadelphia Eagles team needs. 

Round 3 Pick 74 Washington Football Team

Benjamin St.-Juste, CB, Minnesota

Grade: A-

Washington needed help in their secondary and St.-Juste is a great value pick here. His ability in coverage will cement a defense that already added Jabril Cox this draft.

Round 3 Pick 75 Dallas Cowboys

Osa Odighizuwa, DT, UCLA

Grade: B

The Dallas Cowboys have clearly made it their intent to improve their defense. They needed to beef up their line, and Osa Odighizuwa makes that possible. He had to work to put on some extra poundage, but when he finally did, he was a force at DT for UCLA. 

Round 3 Pick 76 New Orleans Saints

Paulson Adebo, CB, Stanford

Grade: C+

The Saints did finally address the cornerback position, and Paulson Adebo is a candidate for a starting corner job. That said, the Saints’ biggest need was at corner. They could have addressed it far earlier than this. 

Round 3 Pick 77 Los Angeles Chargers

Josh Palmer, WR, Tennessee

Grade: B+

Josh Palmer is a solid wide receiver prospect and could turn into a great player in LA’s system. Side note: Asante Samuel Jr. and Josh Palmer played together in high school and are now both Chargers after this draft. 

Round 3 Pick 78 Minnesota Vikings

Chazz Surratt, LB, UNC

Grade: C

The Vikings may need some linebacker depth down the road, but Chazz Surratt doesn’t feel like the best available player at this point. Divine Deablo was still on the board and may be a better player in the long term.

Round 3 Pick 79 Las Vegas Raiders

Malcolm Koonce, EDGE, Buffalo

Grade: B-

Malcolm Koonce has the length to succeed at the NFL level, but he needs to refine his skills and become more consistent. He is a bit on the lighter side, but he is another quick guy off the edge.

Round 3 Pick 80 Las Vegas Raiders

Divine Deablo, S, Virginia Tech

Grade: A

The Raiders basically got the second best linebacker/safety hybrid in this draft. At pick 80, that’s pretty good value for a guy in Divine Deablo that has all the talent in coverage that they need. Deablo also has the size to bring a blitz.

Round 3 Pick 81 Miami Dolphins

Hunter Long, TE, Boston College

Grade: A-

Hunter Long will be a massive target for Tua in Miami. At 6-foot-5, Long’s catch radius is huge, and he is also a competent blocker.

Round 3 Pick 82 Washington Football Team

Dyami Brown, WR, UNC

Grade: A-

Dyami Brown is a speedster. He will be a great deep ball threat for Washington, and he brings a unique physicality for a vertical route runner.

Round 3 Pick 83 Carolina Panthers

Tommy Tremble, TE, Notre Dame

Grade: C-

Tremble is an athletic blocker, but he is not a very good receiver. He will bring some value to Carolina, but this is probably a reach this early in the draft. 

Round 3 Pick 84 Dallas Cowboys

Chauncey Golston, DE, Iowa

Grade: C+

The Cowboys continue their attempt to build a defense. Chauncey Golston plays a position of need for Dallas, so this pick makes some sense. He is long and has decent technique, but Golston is very limited athletically.

Round 3 Pick 85 Green Bay Packers

Amari Rodgers, WR, Clemson

Grade: B+

The narrative may be “too little too late” when it comes to the Aaron Rodgers/Green Bay Packers relationship. However, Amari Rodgers is a great fit in Green Bay. Has the feel of someone that could develop into a Randall Cobb type. 

Round 3 Pick 86 Minnesota Vikings

Wyatt Davis, G, Ohio State

Grade: A

Wyatt Davis would be a borderline first rounder if his 2020 season was a bit better. While that season is a concern, Davis is a great fit for a Vikings team that desperately needs some decent guard play. 

Round 3 Pick 87 Pittsburgh Steelers

Kendrick Green, G, Illinois

Grade: A

Pittsburgh has also found an instant starter for their o-line in the third round. Kendrick Green is strong, explosive, and versatile enough to play either guard or center. 

Round 3 Pick 88 San Francisco 49ers

Trey Sermon, RB, Ohio State

Grade: C+

It’s surprising San Francisco went running back this early given all the talent they already have at the position. That said, Sermon is a power back that can be a goal-line option, but he is elusive enough to break off big plays here and there as well. San Francisco can kind of play with house money from here on out, anyway, so it’s hard to knock this pick too much.

Round 3 Pick 89 Houston Texans

Nico Collins, WR, Michigan

Grade: B

Depending on what the quarterback situation is in 2021, Houston may have found a diamond in the rough here. Collins has the size to play physically, but his speed and athleticism make him especially lethal.

Round 3 Pick 90 Minnesota Vikings

Patrick Jones II, EDGE, Pittsburgh

Grade: B-

This pick probably isn’t a home run, but Minnesota doesn’t need it to be. They needed a decent pass rusher to come in on rotation, and that is what they should get out of Patrick Jones II.

Round 3 Pick 91 Cleveland Browns

Anthony Schwartz, WR, Auburn

Grade: A-

The Browns needed more breakaway speed in their wide receiver room. Anthony Schwartz is blazing fast on his routes, and he ran a 4.26 40 at his pro day. Cleveland’s pass catchers look scary with OBJ returning.

Round 3 Pick 92 Tennessee Titans

Monty Rice, LB, Georgia

Grade: B-

Tennessee’s defense needs a leader. Monty Rice may not be able to immediately step into that role, but that has to be the long-term vision for him. He is athletic, can recognize opposing schemes, and is an exceptional tackler.

Round 3 Pick 93 Buffalo Bills

Spencer Brown, OT, Northern Iowa

Grade: C+

Buffalo didn’t particularly need a tackle here, but Spencer Brown has great potential. He needs to get stronger, but the athleticism and instincts are there.

Round 3 Pick 94 Baltimore Ravens

Ben Cleveland, G, Georgia

Grade: A-

The guards taken in this round have all been guys that could have gone early on in the second round. Ben Cleveland is no different. He is a boulder on the inside of the o-line, and Baltimore could use another guard.

Round 3 Pick 95 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Robert Hainsey, OT, Notre Dame

Grade: A-

Again, Tampa Bay can essentially do whatever they want in this draft. Robert Hainsey is an amazing depth pick up and can play essentially any position up and down the offensive line.

Round 3 Pick 96 New England Patriots

Ronnie Perkins, EDGE, Oklahoma

Grade: A

Ronnie Perkins has exceptional energy as an edge. He doesn’t have everything figured out yet, but New England will find a way to get him involved immediately on their defense.

Round 3 Pick 97 Los Angeles Chargers

Tre’ McKitty, TE, Georgia

Grade: C

Another block-first tight end is off the board. If a team were going to use a Day Two pick on one, LA probably makes the most sense especially now that Hunter Henry is gone. He just won’t eat up the targets that Henry did in the passing game. 

Round 3 Pick 98 Denver Broncos

Quinn Meinerz, G, Wisconsin-Whitewater

Grade: B+

It remains to be seen what kind of immediate impact Meinerz will have. If he can rein in some of that aggressiveness, he could be a starter anywhere along the interior o-line.

Round 3 Pick 99 Dallas Cowboys

Nashon Wright, CB, Oregon State

Grade: D

Another corner is not a bad pick here, but it’s interesting that the pick was Nahshon Wright. There are a lot of high quality CBs on the board, but Wright feels like a massive reach. Hopefully he proves this take wrong, but Dallas may regret this one.

Round 3 Pick 100 Tennessee Titans

Elijah Molden, CB, Washington

Grade: A

Tennessee got incredible value here. Molden is the exact cornerback that Tennessee needed. He’s not uber-athletic, but he has surgical precision in his coverage. He will rarely get burned, and he consistently makes plays on the ball.

Round 3 Pick 101 Detroit Lions

Ifeatu Melifonwu, CB, Syracuse

Grade: A

Back-to-back great CB picks here. Again, Ifeatu Melifonwu is not going to blow anyone away with his speed, but he has an explosive first couple steps. If he can ever figure out how to use his size to his advantage, he will be a dominant corner in the NFL. 

Round 3 Pick 102 San Francisco 49ers

Ambry Thomas, CB, Michigan

Grade: C+

It has to hurt San Fran watching both Molden and Melifonwu fall off the board right before their pick. Ambry Thomas is a smaller guy and relies on his speed to make up for under-developed skills. There is always the chance that San Fran turns him into something special, though.

Round 3 Pick 103 Los Angeles Rams

Ernes Jones, LB, South Carolina

Grade: B-

Jones is much better at defending the run than the pass at this point, but he has great awareness on the field. He is certainly quick enough to become a decent coverage linebacker too.

Round 3 Pick 104 Baltimore Ravens

Brandon Stephens, CB, Southern Methodist

Grade: C+

The Ravens got another ridiculously athletic corner, but Stephens is very raw still. He is also a bit older than some others in this draft as a redshirt senior. 

Round 3 Pick 105 Denver Broncos

Baron Browning, LB, Ohio State

Grade: B-

Browning is a very good blitzer and works with his athleticism, but the instincts were very hit or miss at Ohio State. He will also need to get better in coverage.