Giants, Falcons, Bears and Broncos Get Top Grades for NFL Draft

For all the griping on sports talk radio in the New York area about the New York Giants opting to draft Penn State running back Saquon Barkley over a potential franchise quarterback, USA Today writer Nate Davis is a huge fan of the pick.

With the 2018 NFL Draft now in the history books, Davis busted out the red marker and graded all 32 teams— and the teacher’s pet was clearly new Giants GM Dave Gettleman. In awarding the team the only A+, Davis wrote: “Expect Barkley’s impact to be wide-reaching in the short and long run. G Will Hernandez and OLB Lorenzo Carter should be starters by training camp. And Richmond QB Kyle Lauletta (Round 4) might quickly push aside 2017 third rounder Davis Webb as Eli Manning’s backup and, perhaps, eventual successor.”

The Denver Broncos, Atlanta Falcons and Chicago Bears were all close behind having earned A’s.

At the back of the class were a pair of D’s — reserved for the New Orleans Saints, which traded a 2019 first-round pick along with their 2018 first-round pick to move up for raw pass rusher Marcus Davenport, and the Seattle Seahawks, which ignored their obvious needs at offensive line and cornerback.