Mel Kiper Jr. handles the draft grades for us at ESPN every year, but I've gone through and identified the best pick for each of the 32 teams this year.
"Best pick" does not necessarily mean "best player." I'm taking into account team needs, the value a player presented in comparison to my board and any trades related to the pick.
Note: Teams are listed in alphabetical order. To quickly get to your team, click on the links below.
ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND | JAC | KC | LAC | LAR | MIA | MIN | NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | OAK | PHI | PIT | SF | SEA | TB | TEN | WAS
Arizona Cardinals
Dorian Johnson, G, Pittsburgh (pick No. 115)
Guard was a big need for the Cardinals after they lost Earl Watford in free agency and saw Evan Mathis retire. Arizona selected Johnson with the additional fourth-round pick received from Carolina to move down 21 slots in the third. Johnson is a plug-and-play starter for Arizona: He's an elite run-blocker who has the arm length to get even better in pass protection. Johnson finished his career with 40 consecutive starts and took his game to another level in 2016.
Atlanta Falcons
Duke Riley, ILB, LSU (pick No. 75)
The Falcons traded back from pick No. 63 to 75, receiving two additional fifth-round selections in the process, which turned into CB Damontae Kazee (a terrific value) and RB Brian Hill, a player I saw up close at Wyoming. Not to be overlooked, Atlanta selected Riley with the 75th pick. He'll pair with his former LSU teammate Deion Jones, who made a big impact in 2016 as a rookie. Although Riley isn't quite as explosive as Jones, he displays quick redirect skills and the ability to get sideline-to-sideline in a hurry; he recorded the second-fastest 40 time among linebackers at the combine. I love what the Falcons are doing on defense, adding even more speed to the fold. Their first-round pick, Takkarist McKinley, has a really quick first step off the edge and is a good complement to Vic Beasley Jr. in Atlanta.
