NFL Draft Grades - NFC West: Cardinals end QB search, Wilson gets no help
With the 2018 NFL Draft officially complete, theScore's NFL editors hand out their initial grades for how teams fared during all seven rounds.
NFC
EAST | NORTH | SOUTH | WEST
AFC
EAST | NORTH | SOUTH | WEST
Arizona Cardinals
| RD. | PLAYER |
|---|---|
| 1 | QB Josh Rosen |
| 2 | WR Christian Kirk |
| 3 | C Mason Cole |
| 4 | RB Chase Edmonds |
| 6 | CB Chris Campbell |
| 7 | OT Korey Cunningham |
While Rosen has his doubters, the Cardinals may have gotten the best pure passer in the draft without having to give up a crazy amount of assets. Entering the season with the brittle Sam Bradford, backed up by Mike Glennon, was asking for trouble. The Cardinals secured the future of the quarterback position while also getting a player who could compete from Day 1. Similarly, Kirk should have an immediate impact. The wideout is a good-not-great athlete but possesses advanced route-running ability and skills as a returner.
Grade: A-
Los Angeles Rams
| RD. | PLAYER |
|---|---|
| 3 | OT Joseph Noteboom |
| 4 | C Brian Allen |
| 4 | DE John Franklin-Myers |
| 5 | LB Micah Kiser |
| 6 | RB John Kelly |
| 6 | OT Jamil Demby |
| 6 | DT Sebastien Joseph |
| 6 | DE Trevon Young |
| 7 | LB Travin Howard |
| 7 | DE Justin Lawler |
The super-active Rams didn't have top assets to really form a strong draft class after using them to dramatically boost their roster through trades this offseason. Los Angeles did address its lack of pass rush by taking three edge players, who will all likely be salivating at the prospect of playing alongside Aaron Donald and Ndamukong Suh. Kelly was a steal in the sixth and provides Todd Gurley with a much-needed backup to ease his large workload.
Grade: C
San Francisco 49ers
| RD. | PLAYER |
|---|---|
| 1 | OT Mike McGlinchey |
| 2 | WR Dante Pettis |
| 3 | LB Fred Warner |
| 3 | S Tarvarius Moore |
| 4 | DE Kentavius Street |
| 5 | CB D.J. Reed |
| 6 | S Marcell Harris |
| 7 | DT Jullian Taylor |
| 7 | WR Richie James |
The 49ers can be forgiven for a slight reach on McGlinchey, as they desperately needed to improve $135-million man Jimmy Garoppolo's protection. There were a handful of potential defensive game-changers still on the board, though, so San Francisco's grade suffers. Pettis has the potential to slide into the slot from Day 1 and Warner could form a strong duo with Reuben Foster. Taking a player coming off a torn ACL in the fourth round is the kind of risk the 49ers probably shouldn't be taking considering their roster still needs significant work.
Grade: C+
Seattle Seahawks
| RD. | PLAYER |
|---|---|
| 1 | RB Rashaad Penny |
| 3 | DE Rasheem Green |
| 4 | TE Will Dissly |
| 5 | LB Shaquem Griffin |
| 5 | S Tre Flowers |
| 5 | P Michael Dickson |
| 5 | OT Jamarco Jones |
| 6 | LB Jake Martin |
| 7 | QB Alex McGough |
Russell Wilson better be working on his cardio, because he's going to be running for his life all season long - again - after the Seahawks inexplicably waited until late in the fifth round to take an offensive lineman. Equally confusing was the reach in the first for Penny, who lacks the athleticism that's expected from the second back off the board. Taking a blocking tight end in the fourth was a waste of assets, and while Griffin reuniting with his twin brother is an amazing story, it's nowhere near enough to save this draft for Seattle.
Grade: D-