Six thoughts on last week’s NFL draft. …
1. The best first-round pairing was Colston Loveland and the Bears.
Expect 50 catches and five touchdowns from the rookie tight end, who will enhance the offense’s versatility.
It’s vital that the Bears unlock quarterback Caleb Williams, the first pick of the 2024 draft. Williams was far too slow in getting the ball out last year. He should click with Loveland, although the rookie won’t be 22 until next spring.
Loveland is large but agile. At Michigan, he practiced in an NFL-style offense and against NFL-style defenses. He’s a better blocker than NFL veterans such as Mike Gesicki. Loveland will be comfortable in windy, cold Chicago. Teammate Cole Kmet, a complete, if less dynamic tight end who’s 26, can shorten Loveland’s learning curve.
The 6-foot-6, 248-pounder isn’t a clunky big target. His lateral moves and change of speed are good. General manager Ryan Poles, who was with the Chiefs when they drafted Travis Kelce in the third round, took Loveland with the 10th pick.
2. The Raiders ed nine times on quarterback Shedeur Sanders, including multiple times in rounds in which they moved down.
It was the team’s first draft under minority owner Tom Brady.
If Sanders becomes an NFL star, Brady underestimated him. Broncos Hall of Fame QB John Elway knows how hard drafting can be. He erred several times in drafting QBs.
3. It’s not wise of draftniks to liken Ashton Jeanty to LaDainian Tomlinson.
Let Jeanty be Jeanty. That’s the smart advice of Jacob Hester and Eric Weddle, two of L.T.’s former teammates in San Diego.
Tomlinson was great at avoiding direct hits. Can Jeanty do the same? Most running backs can’t.
Tomlinson set a high bar as a receiver. He had a good catch radius for a running back. The 5-foot-10 Tomlinson weighed 221 pounds at the NFL scouting combine.
Jeanty has shown promise as a receiver, especially in high school, where he excelled as a slot receiver. The 5-foot-8 1/2 Jeanty weighed 211 pounds at the combine. A smallish frame reduces his catch radius.
Jeanty went sixth overall to the Raiders. Their offensive line, which was a below-average unit last year, should benefit from the March addition of QB Geno Smith.
4. Leading up to the draft, I noted the Chiefs and Eagles’ knack for finding great medical bargains in past drafts. Sure enough, both teams dipped from that well in the first round.
The Eagles traded up one spot to draft Jihaad Campbell 31st overall. The Alabama linebacker’s draft stock seemingly was affected by recent shoulder-cartilage surgery and other medical issues.
One pick later, the Chiefs drafted Josh Simmons, the left tackle who began his college career at San Diego State. In October, a torn knee tendon ended his season with Ohio State.
Simmons’ rehab is ongoing, but Chiefs coach Andy Reid (a former Eagles coach) said he might be ready for the start of training camp.
The Chiefs graded Simmons as one of the better left tackle prospects in several years, reported ESPN’s Adam Teicher. “Physically, he’s elite,” said Ryne Nutt, K.C.’s director of player personnel. “His feet jump off the tape when you put his tape on.”
San Diegans will recall the Chargers’ medical bonanza of the ‘06 draft. General manager A.J. Smith, trusting team physician Dr. David Chao and trainer James Collins, drafted cornerback Antonio Cromartie (knee) and left tackle Marcus McNeill (back) after injury concerns may have affected other teams. Both players had lengthy NFL careers and won multiple AFC West titles with San Diego.
Chiefs GM Brett Veach said the 6-5, 317-pound Simmons, absent the season-ending injury, likely would’ve gone sooner. “It’s probably a blessing in a weird way that that injury happened for us to be in this position,” he said. “Again, a lot of work ahead on the football side and on the rehab side, but he’s got a great coaching staff, great locker room, great training staff so we feel good about what we can get out of him.”
5. Rookie GM John Spytak of the Raiders impressed by trading down twice early in the draft. It’s better to create more selections rather than assume you can out-evaluate the industry.
6. The Rams had a great start to the draft. They got a first-round 2026 pick from the Falcons by trading down and took Terrance Ferguson in the second round. The former Oregon tight end (6-5 1/2, 247) has above-average NFL athleticism.
