Execs unfiltered on NFL Draft for every AFC team: Are things looking up for Jets, Raiders?

After dissecting NFC teams’ drafts Thursday, we’re back with NFL executives’ insights into how all 16 AFC teams handled the annual player selection process.

Did the Buffalo Bills make wise use of all those picks (10) after trading down? Was the Cleveland Browns’ draft as good as the analysts suggested? Do the Houston Texans care what anyone thinks? Should the Indianapolis Colts regret the Sauce Gardner trade? Does anyone have anything good to say about Jaguars general manager James Gladstone? Is it really OK to feel good about the New York Jets?

Execs answer these and many more questions during my annual draft review.

For each team, we’ve included where it ranked in draft capital used (calculated using an NFL analytical model) and in Dane Brugler’s favorite classes, along with how many times it traded up or down during the draft (excluding deals that involved veteran players).

Baltimore Ravens

Draft capital rank: 11th | Brugler’s rank: 11th | Trades up/down: 1/0

The Ravens continued their recent trend of targeting less-premium positions in the first round, inviting an interesting philosophical discussion.

Guard Olaivavega Ioane (No. 14 this year) joins safety Malaki Starks (No. 27 in 2025), safety Kyle Hamilton (No. 14 in 2022) and center Tyler Linderbaum (No. 25 in 2022) among the recent Baltimore first-rounders fitting that mold.

All qualify as solid or even spectacular players.

Execs see Ioane as a high-odds prospect as well.

“Really good, good player — probably the best guard in the draft,” one said.

The problem, if there is one, is that teams are generally less likely to re-sign players at these positions once their rookie contracts expire (Hamilton, the lone superstar among the group, did sign a four-year, $100.4 million deal before last season).

“The positional-value talk before the draft was interesting — teams said you can throw that out this year with the premium players playing non-premium positions,” another exec said. “(Sonny) Styles, (Caleb) Downs, (Jeremiyah) Love all fit that. Guards are expensive now, so it’s not as bad to pick up their options.

“Indy made it work with Quenton Nelson, and he was picked a lot higher (No. 6) than Ioane.”

Linderbaum’s case is instructive. He was everything the Ravens could have hoped, starting 66 of a possible 68 career games, earning three consecutive Pro Bowl honors and ranking fourth in Pro Football Focus’ grading for centers last season. But Baltimore declined his fifth-year option last spring because the value ($23.4 million) is tied to all offensive linemen (not centers, specifically). When his deal expired after four years, the Raiders signed him to a three-year, $81 million deal, resetting the market at the position by roughly 50 percent.

No one faults Baltimore for failing to meet that steep price, but if Ioane leaves in four years, no one should be shocked, either.

The void at center endures for Baltimore.

After using the first-round pick on Ioane and a second-rounder on an edge rusher (Zion Young), the Ravens watched two centers come off the board — Logan Jones to Chicago at No. 57, Jake Slaughter to the Chargers at No. 63 — before they were back on the clock at No. 80 and took receiver Ja’Kobi Lane.

Garrett Bradbury, acquired by Chicago from New England this offseason, would be a logical trade target if the Bears like what they see from Jones, the center they drafted in the second round. Bradbury played at NC State when current Ravens offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford coached the position for the Wolfpack.

“Baltimore is going to let everybody who can snap the ball try,” an exec said. “That would not be a bad trade. If I’m Chicago, I would not trade him until I know what I have with Logan Jones and know he is the guy.”

The Ravens doubled up on receiver and tight end in the third through fifth rounds.

“Ja’Kobi Lane is really talented — he has ability, but he’s really inconsistent,” an exec said of the Ravens’ third-round receiver. “(Matthew) Hibner is a good route-running tight end, has a little speed, catches it well, is perfect for them to develop. But he doesn’t have the body control that (Isaiah) Likely had.”

Buffalo Bills

Draft capital rank: 25th | Brugler’s rank: 22nd | Trades up/down: 1/6

Execs admired the Bills’ ability to maneuver around the board while making a league-high seven in-draft trades, but reviews were mixed regarding the players Buffalo wound up selecting.

“Those picks you gain, whether it’s a third or fourth or something later, they were not going to net you any (good) players in this draft,” one exec said.

Time will tell on that front. The team drafted 10 players, tied for third-most in the league, and used its second-rounder to acquire receiver DJ Moore from Chicago.

“I do think there’s some element of regime change with (coach) Joe Brady and (GM) Brandon (Beane) wanting to make this his team and put in his stamp on it,” another exec said. “(Having) more picks probably helps do that. But again, this was a weird draft, in that it was terrible at the top and terrible at the bottom.”

Was it good anywhere?

“There was no sweet spot to accumulate picks,” this exec added. “I do not really begrudge anybody’s strategy in this draft, because I don’t know what you were supposed to do to be effective.”

The Bills traded down from 26 to 28, then to 31, then to 35, where they selected Clemson edge rusher T.J. Parker.

“The issue I have is, they took guys who have questionable play style,” a third exec said. “If you asked them what their identity is, they might say tough, physical, all these things. But you look at the guys they drafted, and it’s not that.”

Others liked Parker more.

“I was a big fan of Parker,” a different exec said. “Real young kid. Huge upside. The problem is, those Clemson defensive linemen, they just haven’t really developed, so there’s a little bit of a concern there.”

Cincinnati Bengals

Draft capital rank: 28th | Brugler’s rank: 24th | Trades up/down: 0/1

Execs applauded the Bengals’ decision to trade the 10th pick to the Giants for nose tackle Dexter Lawrence. They saw it as the surest way available for the Bengals to upgrade their defense and demonstrate to quarterback Joe Burrow that the team was serious, two huge priorities this offseason.

“This is like the NBA when you are trying to acquire guys to keep your star who is going to leave happy,” one exec said. “Is it expensive? Sure, but there is no price on keeping Burrow happy. Drafting Rueben Bain does not make Burrow happy.”

The Bengals also traded down with the Jets, who selected quarterback Cade Klubnik with Cincinnati’s pick in the fourth round. That deal helped the Bengals land receiver Colbie Young along with center Connor Lew.

“Young is legit — he’s big, and he’s got good hips and really good instincts for route running,” another exec said. “He is an outside receiver, though, so there is no one who can play the slot for them unless they put Ja’Marr Chase in there. It’s a helluva value pick. I just don’t know how you play all three at once.”

After effectively landing Lawrence with the 10th pick, the Bengals addressed defense with their own second- and third-round picks. They already added Boye Mafe, Bryan Cook and Jonathan Allen to deals totaling $45.9 million in average salary after letting edge rushers Trey Hendrickson and Joseph Ossai leave in free agency.

“Dexter Lawrence would be a top-five pick in this draft even at his age,” a third exec said. “There is no one like him in this draft. He can change their defense, coupled with what they did in free agency.”

How could the Bengals have handled the Lawrence trade better? A fourth exec suggested they could have tried to involve a third team — if there was one that wanted to move up to No. 10 — and perhaps bring a mid-round pick back to Cincinnati.

“But I don’t think enough people were aware it was happening,” this exec said, “and the Giants played it smart by making the Bengals think they had to give up the 10th pick.”

Cleveland Browns

Draft capital rank: 4th | Brugler’s rank: 1st | Trades up/down: 2/4

The Browns were linked to offensive linemen heading into the draft, even after addressing the position in free agency. Their ability to land their choice of tackles (Spencer Fano, the first offensive lineman selected) after trading back three spots to No. 9 looked like textbook maneuvering.

Cleveland was also the only team to add multiple 2027 picks, landing fourth-rounders from the Giants and Seahawks for moving back later in the draft.

“I thought they had a nice draft, a sound plan,” an exec said. “They save cash moving back from six to nine and getting the guy they wanted anyway. All these teams that don’t have QBs — are you doing the right thing to set yourself up for next year?”

One knock: Should the Browns be doubling up on wide receivers (KC Concepcion at No. 24, Denzel Boston at No. 39), given the state of their roster?

“That was odd,” another exec said. “They are unsettled at the quarterback position, but they took two wideouts? Build your defense and run game.”

Drafting Fano after acquiring tackle Tytus Howard and signing free-agent interior offensive linemen Zion Johnson and Elgton Jenkins could address the run game. The defense was already highly rated but lost coordinator Jim Schwartz.

“Concepcion is a skinny, wiry guy who is going to be really good in the slot but can also win one-on-one outside,” a third exec said. “He is dynamite — like a joystick, but not a Kadarius Toney version. He’s a legitimate outside, fast, beats-you-one-on-one receiver.”

Denver Broncos

Draft capital rank: 32nd | Brugler’s rank: 31st | Trades up/down: 1/1

The Broncos traded picks in the first and third rounds (while moving up in the fourth) to Miami for receiver Jaylen Waddle, signaling they think they are in their contending window after reaching the AFC title game last season and nearly winning, despite playing without quarterback Bo Nix.

“They gotta feel like they are a quarterback injury away from being in the Super Bowl,” an exec said.

Should Denver feel that way?

“The AFC was pretty down, including Kansas City,” the exec said. “Denver barely beat Buffalo; I think Buffalo’s window has closed. New England will regress. I’d never bet against (Patrick) Mahomes and Andy Reid playing their best when it matters.”

Denver went 5-1 in the AFC West last season.

“When we played them, I thought they were a really well-coached team, but I did not feel they were overly talented on the offensive side,” another exec said.

Waddle changes that.

“Very smart move,” a third exec said.

Execs said they would rather have a highly paid Waddle than take their chances in this draft, given the situation.

The Jets selected Indiana receiver Omar Cooper Jr. in the No. 30 slot Denver would have held if the Broncos had not traded for Waddle. Cooper was the fifth wideout selected. De’Zhaun Stribling (No. 33), Denzel Boston (No. 39) and Germie Bernard (No. 47) were the next receivers chosen.

Denver traded out of the second round with Buffalo, moving back four spots to take defensive tackle Tyler Onyedim. The Broncos’ only trade-up was much later, an indication the Waddle trade might have satisfied coach Sean Payton’s itch to trade up.

“I didn’t love those names (of Denver picks),” a fourth exec said. “I can see the Boise State tackle (Kage Casey) because he very much fits their scheme as an athletic zone guy who can play some guard and has even snapped a little.

“They very much draft for them, and I think that’s because they are coach-centric from a need standpoint. If they keep winning, it’s hard to criticize it.”

Houston Texans

Draft capital rank: 16th | Brugler’s rank: 23rd | Trades up/down: 2/1

The Texans operate like a team unswayed by what anyone else thinks.

“Houston doesn’t care about anything,” one exec said. “If you look even at their extensions, they don’t just set the market. They set the market. They are not really taking their time or being patient.”

That continued in the draft, as Houston traded up two spots before making each of its first two selections, one for interior offensive lineman Keylan Rutledge (No. 26) and the other for defensive tackle Kayden McDonald (No. 36).

“I thought Houston did a really good job of maneuvering the draft board,” another exec said. “Nick Caserio had a real good feel for how this thing was gonna play out in the way he moved. The consensus among teams I talked to was that Rutledge was really highly thought of, and I think Kayden McDonald was coveted by other teams as well.”

Rutledge and McDonald were indeed popular picks among execs.

“I love what they did in the trenches,” a third exec said. “Rutledge is great. He is one of my favorite interior guys in the draft.”

Back to the process.

“The value pick that I raised my eyebrows on was the tight end in the second round (Marlin Klein), but I really like Rutledge a lot, and I liked most of their picks,” a fourth exec said. “The thing I wonder about Houston is, what is their plan? They have a good team. I don’t know how they are going to keep it together.

“They are paying top of the market on short deals for all their best players. That is not sustainable.”

Indianapolis Colts

Draft capital rank: 29th | Brugler’s rank: 18th | Trades up/down: 0/1

When the Colts traded their 2026 and 2027 first-round picks to the Jets for cornerback Sauce Gardner in November, they were projected to pick in the No. 30-32 range, thanks to a 7-2 record that was tied for best in the league at that time.

But an Indy offense that led the NFL in EPA per play to that point in the season ranked 25th thereafter. The Colts went 1-7 the rest of the way, including 1-4 before losing quarterback Daniel Jones to a season-ending injury.

The pick Indy traded wound up being No. 16 in the order this year. Four offensive tackles, two defensive tackles, two receivers, two edge rushers, one tight end, one safety, one guard and cornerback Chris Johnson came off the board from the 16th through 29th picks, which represents the ground the Jets gained in the draft order during Indy’s 1-7 finish.

“They would not have gotten a Sauce Gardner picking where they were going to pick, whether that was at 16 or later in the round,” an exec said. “That verdict on that trade is going to be determined by their next first-round pick, and what that looks like.”

The Colts’ top two picks, linebacker CJ Allen (No. 53) and safety A.J. Haulcy (No. 78), will also figure into that equation.

“CJ Allen is probably going to end up being a team captain on defense, and then they took some late-round swings on guys who had talent, but also big question marks,” another exec said. “That could buffer some of the early picks they didn’t have.”

Whereas some questioned the play style of Buffalo’s additions, execs thought the Colts nailed that aspect of their draft.

“These are tough players,” one said. “They have violent play styles. They take the ball away. They love football. To me, this is what you are looking for.”

Jacksonville Jaguars

Draft capital rank: 27th | Brugler’s rank: 32nd | Trades up/down: 2/0

Last year, execs shot down Jaguars GM James Gladstone’s contention that No. 1 pick Travis Hunter would revolutionize the sport as a two-way player.

This year, they saw more hubris in Gladstone’s statement that the team “nailed” 10 of the 11 picks it set out to make in an exercise conducted one day before the draft (the only miss wasn’t a miss because the team traded away the 11th pick, making the Jaguars 10-for-10).

Upon closer inspection, Gladstone probably was not lying. The Jaguars picked so many players that others seemed to rate elsewhere in the draft that it’s quite plausible they landed all the players they set out to land. Is that good?

“I did not like what Jacksonville did at all,” one exec said. “Their picks reflect numbers — workouts, pro days, that kind of stuff — more than the film. ‘We are going to be smarter than everybody else.’ It was a traits draft for them.”

As another exec pointed out when analyzing San Francisco in our NFC draft review Thursday, at least the 49ers traded back before selecting players other teams seemingly did not value near the Niners’ original slots. San Francisco traded down four times. Jacksonville never traded down and actually traded up for fourth-round edge Wesley Williams and sixth-round receiver Josh Cameron.

“The GM’s bravado is outsized for their accomplishments, and the world loves to punish that,” a different exec said. “But it’s paradoxical that it’s the analytics community, which has now rallied around the public consensus board as being right, that is the one that wants to punish him.”

Oh, others want to punish him as well.

“Jacksonville, they just absolutely have to have (tight end) Nate Boerkircher — like, they freaking gotta have him,” a third exec said. “OK, going with more tight ends is en vogue now. How long will that be the case? What you are seeing is a lot of teams solving yesterday’s problems.”

Philly started the Day 2 run on tight ends by taking Eli Stowers at No. 54. The Jaguars took Boerkircher — whom most projected to go in the 100s — at No. 56. Teams drafted four more tight ends over the next 17 slots and 22 total, most in one draft since 2002. The Jaguars were one of five teams to draft two tight ends, along with Baltimore, Cleveland, Miami and Denver.

“I thought there was going to be a lot of tight ends drafted as a result of Sean McVay, Kyle Shanahan and Ben Johnson schemes,” another exec said. “I really like Boerkircher, and it’s funny how much heat Jacksonville was getting for their draft.

“I like that their GM is being kind of arrogant about it. That is more the theater of the whole thing.”

Kansas City Chiefs

Draft capital rank: 7th | Brugler’s rank: 8th | Trades up/down: 2/0

The Chiefs entered this draft in the unusual (for them) position of holding a top-10 pick. They seemed to read the draft correctly.

By signing running back Kenneth Walker III in free agency, the Chiefs correctly gauged that Jeremiyah Love, the consensus No. 1 back in this draft, would not be available to them (Arizona selected Love at No. 3).

By trading cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Rams for a first-round pick and three other choices, the Chiefs signaled that they could find a suitable replacement for McDuffie in the draft (they did, trading up three spots to No. 6 for Mansoor Delane, the top corner in this class and a close comp for McDuffie).

“I think the LSU corner (Delane) is Defensive Rookie of the Year,” an exec said. “The movement skills, the production on the ball, the physicality. They get a cost-controlled guy who is going to be really productive, and they moved up to get him instead of waiting to see what happens. I give them credit when a lot of people thought they were going to sit tight and take an offensive lineman.”

But did the Chiefs really need to trade up three spots?

“Mansoor does compare to McDuffie, so that is a good thing,” another exec said. “I think they wanted that third-round pick. It could have cost them from getting a receiver.”

The third-round pick Kansas City sent to the Browns as part of the trade-up was No. 74. That pick would have given Kansas City its choice from a group of eight receivers chosen over 21 slots: Malachi Fields (No. 74), Caleb Douglas (75), Zachariah Branch (79), Ja’Kobi Lane (80), Chris Brazzell II (83), Ted Hurst (84), Zavion Thomas (89) and Chris Bell (94).

Instead, the Chiefs took receiver Cyrus Allen in the fifth round.

“Cyrus Allen is pretty good for what they are getting,” a third exec said. “He will be the choice runner, the slot guy, the guy they throw bubbles to.”

If that doesn’t excite Chiefs fans, what will? How about adding three players to the defense with picks in the top 40?

“They got guys that should help them immediately, not redshirt guys,” an exec said. “The defense is going to be younger, faster. On offense, the reality of it is, the guys they already have must play better.”

Las Vegas Raiders

Draft capital rank: 3rd | Brugler’s rank: 3rd | Trades up/down: 2/2

The Raiders owned five of the top 101 picks and used most of them on defense after making quarterback Fernando Mendoza the No. 1 pick as expected.

“I think Mendoza will thrive there with Klint Kubiak, but it will take two or three years,” one exec said. “They just don’t have a good enough team.”

The Raiders are on their fourth head coach in four seasons, so any references to two or three years in the future count as highly speculative.

“I like what they’ve done in terms of creating an environment for their young quarterback,” another exec said. “They have an uphill battle in that division, but just from a foundational standpoint, they’ve built in a smart way. Kirk Cousins can hold the fort, you turn to your No. 1 pick when he’s ready and then you have a center (Tyler Linderbaum) that should be playing with him for, hopefully, the majority of his career.”

Cousins signed a deal with guarantees in 2027.

“All indications are they are going to make Mendoza sit,” a third exec said.

Trading back two spots with Houston before selecting safety Treydan Stukes at No. 38 helped land a third-round pick the Raiders used on offensive lineman Trey Zuhn III. Las Vegas moved up one spot to secure cornerback Jermod McCoy, a first-round talent who slid because of medical concerns about his knee, with the first pick in Round 4.

“It’s a cool draft,” a different exec said. “Stukes is old (turns 25 in September), but you get him in the second round. (Keyron) Crawford is probably the best value edge in the class. Zuhn can play center or tackle, so he is an interesting piece. McCoy can be one of the best corners in the league if the knee holds up, but as I understand it, if the knee gets hurt again, he’s done.”

Los Angeles Chargers

Draft capital rank: 22nd | Brugler’s rank: 21st | Trades up/down: 1/2

There was a good mix of opinions on the Chargers after they finished their offseason juggling of edge rushers by drafting Akheem Mesidor at No. 22.

This was after the team re-signed one veteran edge rusher (Khalil Mack for one year and $18 million) and let another leave (Odafe Oweh, signed by Washington for $24 million per year). The combined annual salary for Mack and Mesidor is less than the total for Oweh.

“The Chargers have done a really nice job,” one exec said. “Joe (Hortiz) has brought what they do at Baltimore. They sit there, and they pick really good players. Where will it get them? I don’t know.”

The dissenting view on the Chargers points to the fact that Mesidor is already 25 years old and could be less likely to sign an extension with the team.

“Mesidor is only 2 1/2 years younger than Oweh,” another exec said. “Why wouldn’t you just keep Oweh? Even if you just transition-tagged him, you have him this year, you can use your first-round pick on something else, you can get younger.”

Oweh wound up getting close to the franchise-tag value ($24.4 million) annually from the Commanders. The transition tag for defensive ends was at $21.5 million. Going that route would have cost the Chargers more money.

“Their cash spending is among the lowest in the league this year,” the second exec said. “What is the upside of Mesidor? You are going to get him for four good years, he is going to be 29 years old and you are not going to want to give him an expensive contract. The upside is limited.

“Have the foresight to keep Oweh for one year, then go get a guard or a lot of different things.”

The Chargers, like the Bears, added a center in the second round despite not having an immediate need at the position, which Ravens GM Eric DeCosta said caught Baltimore off guard. Jake Slaughter did play some guard at the Senior Bowl and will compete to start there in L.A.

“I like the little receiver they got in the fourth round,” a third exec said, referring to Brenen Thompson. “He was like 165 pounds, can absolutely fly and is one of the better route runners in the whole draft. Really dynamic. Has awareness, instincts. He’s got everything except for size.

“This guy has so much quickness, if the corner misses, he will go right by you, and he will scare them.”

Miami Dolphins

Draft capital rank: 5th | Brugler’s rank: 9th | Trades up/down: 1/2

The Dolphins had an extra first-round pick from Denver (No. 27) via the Jaylen Waddle trade, helping them make three of the first 43 selections. They had six picks among the top 94 and generally got positive reviews.

“They picked a bunch of good players we wanted to pick, but you were not replacing Jaylen Waddle with a 1, a 3 and a 4 in this draft,” one exec said.

That wasn’t necessarily the goal for a team rebuilding while extricating itself from more than $100 million in dead money.

“They had no roster, no players,” another exec said. “That’s why they drafted 13 players (most in the league). They have to do it with all young guys.”

The most popular Dolphins pick: Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez at No. 43.

“I like all three of their early picks,” another exec said. “Chris Johnson was a legit first-round pick. And I think Jacob Rodriguez is a steal. He is Zach Thomas reincarnated. A little undersized, but the most instinctive guy in the draft.”

What about Kadyn Proctor, the 6-foot-7, 350-pound guard/tackle Miami selected in the first round?

“Smart guy, and if you can keep his weight somewhat good, he’s good enough,” one exec said. “The fact that they got Jacob Rodriguez and the corner, those are really solid doubles — in some cases, triples.”

Two execs called third-round receiver Chris Bell a potential steal, but Bell is recovering from a torn ACL, which explains his draft slot.

One exec compared Bell to A.J. Brown in body type and toughness. Another saw him as a Deebo Samuel type.

“He’s really good, he’s fast, he’s 220 pounds and 6-foot-1,” the second exec said. “Built like Deebo Samuel, but faster. He breaks tackles. He runs away from people. He just doesn’t run a full route tree.”

New England Patriots

Draft capital rank: 23rd | Brugler’s rank: 20th | Trades up/down: 2/2

The draft in New England was a footnote to the Mike Vrabel-Dianna Russini situation, which culminated with the Patriots’ coach missing the draft’s third day and, some execs think, will have ramifications for the season.

“They overachieved last season against a historically easy schedule, Vrabel wins Coach of the Year, they beat a backup quarterback on the road and go to the Super Bowl,” one exec said. “They get demolished in the Super Bowl, but everyone comes out of there feeling like they got the coach and the quarterback, and they’re ahead of things.”

And now?

“They play a first-place schedule, they play the NFC North, Buffalo could be better and they’re bound to make some coaching-related mistakes, which naturally occur. And now people are saying the coach is not all-in, he’s not focused, this took a toll,” the exec said. “While that may or may not be true, that’s gonna be the perception. So, it’s really going to be tough for him this year.”

Nothing about the Patriots’ draft class came even close to changing the subject.

“I actually really like that tackle (Caleb Lomu at No. 28),” another exec said. “He’s a little soft, but I think he has a lot of upside. He’s really athletic. We weren’t big on Gabe Jacas, the defensive end from Illinois. Other than that, nothing really stood out from them.”

Vrabel didn’t miss much on the last day, in other words.

“More than half the draft happens on the last day, so that’s not the day to miss,” a different exec countered.

New York Jets

Draft capital rank: 1st | Brugler’s rank: 5th | Trades up/down: 3/1

The Jets had more draft capital than any other team and drew high marks for how they used that capital, and where they might be headed. Key word: might.

“The draft I really liked — and this is kind of crazy — is the Jets’,” one exec said. “Typically, I don’t like tight ends in the first round, but setting aside that and just looking at their roster and what they have done, they are competent quarterback play and good play calling away from having a really good offense.”

If only we had a good quarterback and play caller …

“I know those two things are really important,” the exec added, “but they have the framework of a really good offense, and the ability to get a good quarterback after this season, and potentially be a lights-out team.”

That is because the Jets own three first-round picks in 2027: their own, one from the Colts and one from the Cowboys.

“The Jets got good players,” another exec said. “(David) Bailey is a legitimate speed outside rusher. (Kenyon) Sadiq is a weapon. I didn’t like (Omar) Cooper as much; even though he can change directions, has good hips and all, there is not an acceleration aspect.”

A different exec thought the Jets should tell coach Aaron Glenn he’ll be judged by how well the young players develop, not how many games the team wins.

“If you are the Jets, why on earth are you playing Geno Smith?” this exec said.

The answer, of course, is that the Jets did not tell Glenn he’ll be judged by how well the young players develop. He needs Smith to raise the floor.

“The Jets can at least sit there and say, ‘We have three ones for a QB next year,’ and I thought they had a really nice draft,” a different exec said.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Draft capital rank: 13th | Brugler’s rank: 17th | Trades up/down: 2/1

Of all the things people debate regarding the draft — best player available versus need, whether running backs should be selected early, etc. — the appropriate time for teams to contact their new draft choices never seemed in question.

“You don’t make the call until you’re on the clock,” an exec said. “It’s crazy.”

The Steelers called receiver Makai Lemon to inform them of their plans before they were on the clock. Philadelphia traded into the spot above Pittsburgh and drafted Lemon out from under the Steelers. Some execs suggested this is not the first time Pittsburgh has called a prospect early.

“They think they are tying up the phone lines so the other team moves on because they can’t get in touch with the player,” another exec said. “All it takes is you to call the player, and if another team calls the agent and they’re like, ‘Oh, he’s on the phone with so-and-so,’ now they know who you’re picking.”

In 2019, the Eagles jumped the Texans for offensive lineman Andre Dillard. Houston was perceived to have “settled” for another lineman, Tytus Howard, who wound up becoming the better player.

That could happen for the Steelers, who used the 21st pick on Arizona State offensive tackle Max Iheanachor, although this selection was not widely heralded.

“I do not know if (Iheanachor) answers the questions that exist with Broderick Jones,” a different exec said. “He will have a learning curve as a super athletic, super raw player. They drafted the Indiana fullback (Riley Nowakowski) and the Navy kid (Eli Heidenreich). What are you trying to do? Meanwhile, the quarterback situation is a real concern, whether or not (Aaron) Rodgers comes back.”

What about second-round receiver Germie Bernard?

“Bernard is a great fit for them,” a different exec said. “He’s a really mature, good player. Bernard is the guy that the Indiana guy (Omar Cooper Jr.) should be but isn’t. Similar skill set, but he has way more urgency.”

Tennessee Titans

Draft capital rank: 8th | Brugler’s rank: 12th | Trades up/down: 2/0

Execs saw the selection of receiver Carnell Tate as a safe pick for a second-year GM (Mike Borgonzi) whose profile has grown with team president Chad Brinker’s resignation.

“Here is a guy (Tate) that is never going to screw up,” one exec said. “He is a guy you are going to want on a second contract. They have had horrible receivers there for a decade-plus. He doesn’t have any injury history like (Jordyn Tyson), and those were the only receivers worthy of a top-10 pick.”

Not long after the Titans used the fourth pick to select Tate, the Chiefs traded up three spots to No. 6 for cornerback Mansoor Delane.

The implication seemed clear: Tate was one of the players the Chiefs were strongly considering, and when he disappeared from the board, Kansas City moved up to make sure it got one of the players on its short list.

The shared interest in Tate tracked after the Titans, led by Borgonzi, a former longtime Chiefs executive, described Tate as a receiver who could threaten all three levels of a defense. That sounded straight from Chiefs coach Andy Reid.

“Solid player,” a different exec said of Tate. “Not explosive fast, but he’s strong and tough. I’d like him to have more instincts and a little more burst.”

Tennessee traded up four spots for edge rusher Keldric Faulk at No. 31.

Of four execs asked to predict the top 10 picks at the combine, two had the Titans selecting Tate, while two others had the team taking Faulk in that spot. One of these execs, a GM, waffled between the two for Tennessee at No. 4, even though he considered Tyson the best wideout in the draft.

“Maybe they felt Tyson was too much risk,” another exec said. “Sometimes the newer GM does not want to get criticized. It’s a solid pick.”