Ell's 2025 NFL Draft Grades: AFC North

Ell's 2025 NFL Draft Grade for the AFC North. Pittsburgh Steelers. Cleveland Browns. Cincinnati Bengals. Baltimore Ravens.  

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hey, fundamentals and techniques, that's the key. Right sixty minutes,
right sixty minutes. I like the wasn't sports talking a

(00:27):
cessor for NFL draft grades? Start with the ebs North.
I'm gonna start off with the Steelers. Gave the Steelers
to be plus. I like how he started off with
defensive tackle Derek Harmon. A lot of people had a
mark here, you're a good fit for the defensive tackle
defensive end who were playing the three four or the
four to three. But in this case three four, which

(00:49):
is a little bit more of this fit. We can
step them middle at defensive tackle. We can provide a
big presence on the end set in the edge, and
we called it. So good value getting them there. They
were missing the second round pick after trade with DK mecalf.
Some good move there also. Then in the third round

(01:11):
they got running back Caleb Johnson out of Iowa. He's
a player I really liked. I thought he wouldn't make
it out of the second round. So good value there.
He was a guy, Like I said, I watched them,
I roars Iowa State. You just kind of know that
I was going to run the ball at least still
average about six years per carry, so much for him
to be the starter by the end of the year.

(01:33):
In the fourth round, they went with edge or outside
linebacker Jack Sawyer out of Ohio State Captain Jackie they
called him. He actually made my top fifty, so I
thought this was a good value here. I actually swapped
them out with Landon Jackson. So Sawyer they kind of
came for him because he had short arms. While he's
one of those high moder guys, you know, always chased

(01:56):
down the play, never really out of it. So I
thought that was a good fit here. You know, steel
Fans really wanted them. He just seemed like one of
those guys that just chased after the quarterback, you know, say,
not really the main guy, but more of a secondary guy.
They always have a round. In the fifth round they

(02:17):
got defensive tackle. Yeah, y'all black. He's more of a
nose tackle, big guy, so he stepped in the middle.
He does give a little bit of pass rush, but
I don't think they'd be using them for that, so
he'd be more in the rotation, just trying to get
his foot work together. Some technique issues. In the sixth round,
I'm a little surprised they didn't go with Shador a

(02:37):
little earlier, but they went with Will Howard, quarterback out
of Ohio State. I like Will Howard at Kansas State
before he kind of got exposed to Ohio State, but
he still won the championship anyway. I mean, if you
watched them in the Oregon game, you kind of know
what I'm talking about. It got it just kind of
make stupid throws. He didn't impress that the tom binder,

(02:59):
which lower the start. But a lot of teams like
him and everybody need to still to kind of go
for a big, big ben. We kind of fits that mold,
a big guy, big arm mobile, so he'd beg good
third string developmental guy. In the seventh round, they want
with linebacker Carson Brunner. He's a guy with NFL jeams.

(03:21):
A lot of these players this year NFL games, but
he's more of a thumper, more of a first second
down guy that started to run. We didn't start off
on special teams to provide death. Then the last pick
in the seventh round, they won't going to back Dante
Camp out of Central Michigan. He's one of those guys
that a lot of people seem to do this draft
at the end, he's just an experienced corner. Was fits

(03:43):
more of the slot nickel role, but he'll start off
on special teams where he has experienced and that's where
Ernest keep because he develops in the more ass you know,
slock corner roll. So since solid draft, the overalled me,
I said, a little disappointed, didn't it's your door, but
they filled a lot of needs in my opinion. Thanks

(04:04):
to the Cleveland Browns came eight minus. I like how
they traded down, got first round pick from Jay Wallas.
Next year. There still able to get defensive tackle Mason Graham,
one of the top players in the draft, so he
really helped Miles Garrett playing next to him or you're
going on the opposite side defensive end as well. He
didn't really like his short arms, but it didn't really

(04:26):
matter in his case. You know, he ad dominant past
rushing from the defensive tackling position. I said, some people
want to say Aaron Donald, but I'm not gonna go
there far. But he definitely gets after the quarterback. I
preferred him next to a bigger guy, so I think
he'll pay defensive end and sometimes slide inside, So start
to pick that overall next day went with Carson Swashington,

(04:50):
linebacker out of U c. L A. Some people thought
it was a little high for him, but I say
it was a very weak linebacker draft, and Gerhard Campbell
had just went to the Eagles. I mean, he's probably
been smarter for them to get Campbell move up a
little bit more. But cousin Schwettington was a second linebacker

(05:11):
behind him. There's not too many behind him, so he
was more so growing into the early second round, so
it was good to pouncel him for anybody else. Did say,
he's more sideline and sideline speed linebacker. Kind of had
an unexpected big year, so I'm sure he'll need some
room to grow, but he'll be able to make some

(05:32):
plays for him. Then in the second round, I thinkure
they wanted one of those local backs, so they went
with running back with Yard and Juggins out Ohio State
to coming off the championship. Junkins is workhorse back who
shown that he can do it by himself at old
mess or you know he can be even better. To
put him with somebody else with speed like he was

(05:54):
at Ohio State with Henderson. So I like Judkins fit here,
I said, moving Nick Chubb type, so good replacement for
him here. Durable back, power back, more quick than fast,
but he'll break some. In the third round, they went
local again, the tight end her old fan in junior

(06:14):
out of Bowling Green. So he was a player I
really liked, so I wouldn't give him the brock bobles come.
But one hundred catches in this college production last season alone,
So high value guy that you can throw too, he said,
a little short, shorter arms, didn't really impress at the Combine,
but impressed at the Senior Bowl. So I think a

(06:36):
solid pick up there. I think it's a number two
tight end that can grow into the number one. Just
the one pick I didn't like, but I know that
they were going with players with high college production, so
get them passed. They went with quarterback Dylan Gable out
of Oregon said, you know, he's kind of the opposite
of your door. He picked later. Of course, it's confident,
he's the leader, he's quiet, but he's a little short

(06:59):
for the position for me. I mean, he was one
of those guys I think that's very highly college productive.
But it doesn't hurt going through the quarterback well through
the Browns next Day won't running back Dylan Samson, which
I like going back one another running back Dyln Samson
out of Tennessee. He kind of fell because of bumble issue.
But even though he's a small compact guy, he did

(07:20):
a lot for Tennessee, real big playmaker, so I like him.
It's more than one be back, especially next to Judkins
in the long term, but they're probably Jerome Floyd Brow.
But now let Salad pick up getting him later. Then
of course they ended the draft with Shador Well. I
think it's more of the number two quarterback what they
have now. It's kind of the opposite of Dylan Gabriels,

(07:43):
so he has a measurement stick there and then you
kind of got him with Kenny Pickett, we can see
how far long years because veteran wise, Keimny Pickett is
not you know, too much of a veteran. You know
he had started, but it'd be a good measuring stick
for your door when you know when the throw and
the heat. I like to drab overall with the extra
first round pick next year, solid picks, oh all the

(08:05):
way through. Felling needs to help in the defense early,
some offense and help, you know, especially the running back position,
so it looked like and getting back to running the
ball in defense under the FANTASKI actually the Bengals came
to see. I said, I didn't like him starting over
with edge Shaman Stewart, uh, the Texas A and M

(08:28):
he'll play. I didn't really trust. Like I said, he
he looks the part. You know, he was filling that
defensive end offensive tackle. They were moving him around, you know,
definitely causing pressure on the backfield and stopping to run.
I said, one and a half sacks, two sacks throughout
his college career. It's not good enough. Jimmy lost about

(08:48):
twenty pounds before the Combine and came into the Combine
workout warrior. Same with the Singing Bowl. So I'm a
little concerned there. I said I would have to see it.
They said he kind of mimics Miles Murphy, but I
like Miles coming out of Clemson. But they say they're
basically similar players, and it considered Murphy of Boss. So
I'm not really sure how still it is going to
work out. But I guess it's more who he's replacing

(09:09):
most of the Hendrickson Hopefully we'll see in the second
round here with the linebacker Demetrius Ninth, junior out of
South Carolina. He's a player that people really like, but
he is twenty five years old. Six year college players
going to be physical, so they see him more as
a middle linebacker ron stop first two downs, but he'll

(09:30):
provide that behind Logan Wilson as he continues to get better,
so he'll make a good special teams player and even
rotational linebacker for now. But they believe, you know he does.
They started potential and he's pretty good in coverage as well.
Third round, he went with guard Deal a bad child
out of Georgia. He was one of the top perd
guards in the draft, but he still need a little work,

(09:53):
but very physical coming out of Georgia. He got the body,
got the skill set. You know, they'll probably throw him
in the fire an als Campbell, but he might be
able to handle that. We're just kids. They got a
rotational guard in the fourth round. It won't want the
her linebackers left. Let's say, swasn't your went and Jehard Campbell,

(10:14):
so the bang was selected. Baron Carter, linebacker of Clemson.
Carter is one of those guys that looks the part
of a peri middle linebacker, but he needs to increase
his warness overall, which is what you want from your
middle linebacker, So he'll possibly play on the outside. He
uses coverage against tight ends, and he has a little
pass rush to him. It's his thirty player for the

(10:34):
linebacker position. He will possibly be on the outside where
it'd be more of a do it all linebacker. I
can see him taking over the middle linebacker. It seems
to be perfect for him, like it was that leader
at Clemson. In the fifth round, they chose Jalen Rivers
tackle out of Miami. He mostly played tackle and a
little bit of guard, so he kind of get them
some versatility to play both positions, so he'd be more

(10:57):
of a developmental player. You don't think they do view
more as a guard. The last in the sixth round,
they were running back Tard Brooks move a calm back,
power back they'll provide definitely. He doesn't really do much
for the passing game. He's continued to grow there, but
he's definitely a guy you can give it to a
value and carriers, but that's not really what the Blangals need.

(11:18):
So he made a fight for a position if they
decided to bring another veteran. You know, they do have
some RGP run already there, so okay, draft could be
better to spend how sh manst it turn out, but
nothing really special to me. Last for the Ravens, I
gave him a be minus. I like the way they
started off, you know, getting good value. Towards the end,

(11:40):
it didn't really seem like a Ravens draft to me.
I like how they started off. I did have my
two point zero for Malic Starts safety out of Georgia,
so I like him more as a corner, but it
does look like here playing safety, very good coverage guy.
He just doesn't hit hard enough for me. Was I
like him more as corner, but the coverage is there,

(12:00):
movable piece. He'd be possibly taking over for Marcus Williams
who they lost in free safety. Then in the second
round they got edge Mike Green out of Marshall. He's
a player I really liked. Thought he would go in
the first round, possibly the Bengals, but to get him
in the second round was good value. Even though they
say it's off the field, it's horrible. So I'm not

(12:20):
really sure what's going on there or if it of
the fact I'm during the season, but solid edge Russia
here on the field, no issues. I think he do
stand up all hand in the dirt, so just to
play even just send at the quarterback. Think he'll start
off more of a situational Russia. So he still need
to grow against the run and coming from Marshall, you know,

(12:42):
still be a learning curve. Then he had to put
on weight anyway, so I'm sure he'll be getting used
to that as well. Moved around with a different week.
Solid picked there. In the third round, he went with
tackle Emery Jones out of LSU. He's a player I'm
a little ippy about and I like him as far
as he has the right building, long arms, the size

(13:04):
that you mo also thinking the left tackle, but it
said something about him where Will Campbell took the left
tackles by he took the right. But I know it'sn't
even talking about moving and more so in the guard.
But I'm pretty sure Rayon the dramat right tackle first.
But he's more of a But the Ravens dudes, they
pick a well known good tackle, try to develop them early,

(13:24):
especially when they had the size, so good pick there.
In the fourth round they wan a linebacker Teddy Buchan
out of University of cal. He's a player that got
good size for linebacker. He's more of a coverage linebacker
that they believe could play off ball, but he's not
really one to really run into the run game, so

(13:44):
he'll start off on special teams as he continued to
develop to a three down player, which they believe he
can be. In the fifth round, then we would tackle
Corson Vincent out of Alabama A and M. He was
the starting left tackle there, so I see them as
the development left tackle for the Ravens behind Stanley. So
his the size, but they said he did struggle against

(14:06):
better competition like Auburn, so I'm sure to be just
a learning curve there. So solidly pick up developmental tackle
which they needed. You never know, Stanley, could we suffer injury.
In the sixth round on cornerback by Lel Cone out
of Western Michigan. He's more of a lanky for that's
type corner with good coverage, but he doesn't really stick

(14:28):
his nose into the run game. He's not really a
solid tackler, so there'll be some development for him there.
But the corner is a big need I'm sure he'll
find his way onto the field just with the good
coverage skills eventually. Then they went with kicker Tyler Luke
out of Arizona. There's good insurance with everything that's going
on with Tucker, give him another possible kicker, but I'm

(14:51):
sure they'll bring it a veteran if need be to
compete with them, but spending a draft pick on him
show how hotly they think of him. Then he went
with wide receiver with johnted Western out of Colorado. He's
a speed guy who can also contribute on special teams.
Not the biggest a player, but definitely a down thefield threat,

(15:12):
deep threat. I'm not really sure how much he can
contribute as a wide receiver. I could definitely see him
contributing on special teams. Remind me more of that Devin
Duvenet rolled at They heard a couple of years ago
what he did for him. Then he went with defensive
tackle and these peoples out of Virginia Tech. He's more
of an undersized defensive tackle defensive end. Didn't really see

(15:35):
his fit for the Ravens at like six foot two
eighty six, but they said he's more of an interior
pass Russia. Deacon Riek have it, but I guess the
plan is more so having a rotation up the middle
of the past Russia. But I'm not really too believing
in that roll. We'll see what sixth round doesn't hurt
to take a risk. Then with cornerback Robert Longer Bean

(15:58):
out of Ruggers, another one of those guys, like I said,
smaller corner the nickel potential, but more of a tough
special teams guy so you can contribute on special teams.
He developed into that slack corner. Then they ended it
with god Gary Dillinger out of LSU. He's an experienced
left guard, will kind of ensure on so he may
be able to play a little sound, but he'll need

(16:20):
some development as well. Since solid draft overall, so I
really like the first two picks. The next few made sense.
You know, they kind of feel needs, but they all
kind of developmental. Not really sure if that's where they
wanted to go in a tough division. You know, two
contributors maybe three, and some special teamers, but solid drafted.

(16:45):
I'm looking forward to give you the rest real soon.
Thanks for tuning in, Thanks for the support,