I have a habit of not watching as much college football as I would like to. This season, I saw just four regular-season games and only three bowl games. As a result, I often find myself completely uninformed about the NFL draft and its prospects. As we approach the season, my love of the NFL will push me to do a more in-depth scouting report on key players and form coherent opinions on their risks and upsides. But, until that time comes, I take advantage of my lack of knowledge with a fun annual tradition I call Speed Scouting. 

The rules are simple:

1. I do not do any scouting of prospects before the NFL draft.
2. When a player is drafted, I quickly research them, watch their film, grade the pick, and justify the grade with a brief description, all before the next pick is announced.

The average time an NFL team takes to select a player in the 1st round is just 7 minutes. Good luck, have fun, and let’s begin.

1.01 | Tennessee Titans | Cam Ward (QB) | A-

Better informed fans than I will probably understand the highlight play I’m referencing when I say, “Was that with his left???” This guy has excellent arm talent and ball placement. He leads his receivers well and is excellent at setting a solid base to throw on the run. His height is a little less than preferable at the next level, and he favors his first read a little too heavily (a bit concerning if you trust his Wonderlic score), but his upside is undeniable.

1.02 | Jacksonville Jaguars | Travis Hunter (WR/CB) | B+

It sounds like the Jags plan to play Hunter primarily at the WR position while letting him serve some time in the nickel package on defense. This is not surprising given the Jaguars’ current WR room, and I think Hunter’s ability to serve as a ball-hawk will mean his limited time on defense should have a massive impact. As a WR, he has great breakaway potential and solid tracking ability. He’s a stud athlete who will excel at both positions, which alone makes him worthy of this pick, though I doubt he’ll wind up the best at either of his positions in this draft.

1.03 | New York Giants | Abdul Carter (EDGE) | A

For a speed rusher, he’s got great play awareness and excellent arm strength. He’s a patient pass rusher who can take advantage of gaps as they form. Not that we should expect him to rise to this comparison, but his game has flavors of Micah Parsons and Will Anderson Jr. If I had a criticism, it’s that he takes what the offense gives him rather than manufacturing success as much as a bull rusher could. That’s nitpicking, though, and I think this is likely an excellent draft pick.

1.04 | New England Patriots | Will Campbell (OT) | C-

There is no greater correlation between physical measurements and NFL success than with arm length and offensive tackles, and Will Campbell registers in the bottom 14% for arm length and the shortest wingspan in the entire NFL by a full inch. For him to be drafted so high should speak volumes about his footwork and strength, but I’m a bit underwhelmed by his film. I fear he will struggle against elite edge rushing talent, which is rapidly becoming a dime a dozen in the NFL.

1.05 | Cleveland Browns | Mason Graham (DT) | B+

He has a very unique build for a defensive tackle, being a bit undersized in most metrics. He seems to be pretty intelligent, functioning as a talented run-stopper more than a pass rusher. This defensive line should suit his skill set well, though. To trade down and get a day one contributor at a position of need while acquiring a 2026 first-round pick was likely a wise move.

1.06 | Las Vegas Raiders | Ashton Jeanty (RB) | C+

This pick felt so quick! I should knock them a full letter just for giving me less time to scout Graham, but I won’t. Instead, I’ll knock them a full letter for drafting a running back at 6th overall. With the benefit of hindsight, I can count on one hand the number of RBs taken in the top 10 who I think weren’t overdrafted. Jeanty is probably the best RB of the draft, has a very solid base, and escapes leg tackles really well. His vision in the backfield could use a little work, but you can’t teach the things he does well. It’s just too early for me.

1.07 | New York Jets | Armand Membou (OT) | A

Membou ranks in the bottom 33% in arm length in the NFL, so I should hate him. Somehow, his film is shocking. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a tackle that can maintain such strength of control over a defender while moving horizontally. He stands a little too vertically, but his body control is impressive, and he’s seemingly very good at improvising. My biggest fear is that the Jets will ask him to drop weight, and he won’t be as strong because of his higher stance, but assuming that doesn’t happen, he should be a great pick.

1.08 | Carolina Panthers | Tetairoa McMillan (WR) | A-

The Panthers have a track record of absolutely terrible WR drafts, but I believe they just broke that streak. He’s a big-body receiver with elite talent at the catch-point and sneaky speed, and a knack for finding gaps against zone defenses. I may not have scouted all the WRs yet, but I’m ready to call him my favorite in this draft. I fear he won’t break free enough in man coverage for Bryce Young to be able to deliver a well-placed ball, but maybe his catch radius can overcome below-average ball placement. I wonder if the Panthers should have gone for a burner instead, but I think the player is worthy of this pick.

1.09 | New Orleans Saints | Kelvin Banks Jr. (OT) | C+

Another OT in the bottom 33% of arm length! Do GMs not know the statistics??? He plays a bit out of control and relies too much on his raw power for my liking. He missed a few chip blocks and has a bit of tunnel vision, but seems to have the raw athleticism required for the position. I wonder if he’d do better with a transition to guard (go ahead and check off your NFL draft bingo free square), but I’m just not impressed enough to warrant drafting him this high.

1.10 | Chicago Bears | Colston Loveland (TE) | C+

Admittedly, I’m terrible at scouting TEs, but I don’t think I’m unique in that. It’s incredibly rare that the top TE taken in the draft would still go #1 with the benefit of hindsight. That said, I have mixed opinions about Loveland. His body control seems solid in the air, but he spends too much time in the air, often hopping into the catch. He’s not an elite blocker by any means, and while I think he’s above average as a receiving TE, I doubt he’ll prove to be above average as a receiver in general. The Bears will try to capitalize on this pick with an above-average number of 2 TE sets, but will that be worth this draft selection?

1.11 | San Francisco 49ers | Mykel Williams (EDGE) | B-

He’s tall and thin, but plays more like a power rusher than a speed rusher. His greatest strength seems to lie in the pass rush, and playing opposite Bosa should grant him more one-on-one matchups in that regard, which he can capitalize on. I suspect he’ll have a strong rookie season, but won’t actually fill the needs that SF has: run defense. I probably have a mid-to-late first-round grade on him, and while I think he’ll look good on paper, I don’t think he’ll be worth the cost to this franchise.

1.12 | Dallas Cowboys | Tyler Booker (IOL) | A-

He’s got all the measurements you could ask for and great athleticism. He holds the defender at a good distance and has great control when locked in. He doesn’t do much other than take care of his matchup, but he seems very capable of shutting that one player down completely. I like a bit more versatility and leadership in the interior, but the Cowboys already have those strengths covered on the line and should benefit greatly from Booker’s addition.

1.13 | Miami Dolphins | Kenneth Grant (DL) | D

Shelby Harris, is that you? Grant is a big body nose tackle who holds the line and has lightning-fast hands to tip balls out of the air. He’ll have several big plays die by his hands as a result, but I worry about the other 95% of the time. He doesn’t move the pocket enough for a nose tackle taken this highly, nor does he clog lanes as well as he should in the run game. This feels like a big reach.

1.14 | Indianapolis Colts | Tyler Warren (TE) | B+

Stop picking so quickly!!! He doesn’t have the best instincts as a receiver, but the nature of his position means he’ll be given mismatches regularly that he can take advantage of. I feel like he found himself open more by happenstance than by creating space, but in the open field, he’s a big problem for defenses. He’s solid enough as a blocker, and while I don’t think he’ll get the ball as frequently at the next level, he’ll do great things with it when he does.

1.15 | Atlanta Falcons | Jalon Walker (LB) | A

He’s a solid, all-around linebacker. He is a capable pass rusher, coverage defender, and run stopper. To best capitalize on that versatility, they need to keep the defense guessing. Stunts, delayed blitzes, anything to confuse the offense will lead to Walker having a big impact on defense. I don’t think he’ll ever be a star in the league, but he’ll be a defensive captain one day and is the perfect archetype to anchor a solid defense.

1.16 | Arizona Cardinals | Walter Nolen (DL) | C+

He’s a bit small for a defensive end, but is strong enough to create plays in spite of that. I worry about his hand technique, he seems to put himself in positions that talented offensive linemen will be able to take advantage of. He’ll see a lot of one-on-one matchups, but I’m not sure it will matter unless he can improve his technique. His strength advantage will shrink dramatically at the next level.

1.17 | Cincinnati Bengals | Shemar Stewart (EDGE) | B-

He never had more than 1.5 sacks in a season, despite typically blitzing from the blindside. He is excellent at getting to the quarterback, but he’s out of control when he connects and struggles to finish the play. Disrupting plays is incredibly valuable, and he does succeed at that, but against quarterbacks who are cooler under pressure, he’ll allow ample opportunities to escape outside and turn a negative play into a big gain. He’ll grant big plays to both teams, but that’s not a positive in my playbook.

1.18 | Seattle Seahawks | Grey Zabel (IOL) | A+

Watch his head-on highlights. He’s wholly aware of the entire defense during the play. I don’t doubt he’s a high-intelligence guy who quickly adjusts to tricks the defense attempts to throw at him. His hand technique is also solid. He played multiple positions with NDST, but will likely be used most frequently on the interior in the NFL, where that intelligence will have a chance to turn to leadership and an incredible impact on his team.

1.19 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Emeka Egbuka (WR) | B+

He looks like a great 3rd down option with solid control at the catch point. He has great body control to maintain an advantage in tight coverage and is passable at route running. I think he’s got a high floor and a middling ceiling, but I don’t dislike that for this draft position. I think he’ll be a great day one benefit to Baker Mayfield and the Bucs offense.

1.20 | Denver Broncos | Jahdae Barron (CB) | A-

A lot of people are probably surprised by this pick, but I have been toying with the idea of adding another 1st round CB to this roster for a few years now. Barron is a ballhawk with shades of the Broncos’ own Aqib Talib. He’s got a unique ability to contort himself at the catch to rip the ball away without creating any illegal contact, and when he has any positional advantage, his sticky fingers often lead to a turnover. Like Talib, he can sometimes find himself out of position, but this defense should easily be able to cover any weaknesses Barron has. The team fit is incredible, and we could be witnessing the rebirth of the No Fly Zone in Denver.

1.21 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Derrick Harmon (DL) | A+

The first round has been dominated by defensive linemen so far! A big contrast to Walter Nolen (1.16 to the Cardinals), his hand technique is excellent. He’s strong, has a great eye for the ball, and covers gaps well in the run game. He’ll get a ton of one-on-ones early in the season, but should quickly earn double teams and open up Cam Heyward for some big plays. This defensive front is going to be dangerous, and this is an excellent late-round find!

1.22 | Los Angeles Chargers | Omarion Hampton (RB) | B-

They signed Najee Harris to a one-year deal this offseason, so this will likely start as a running back by committee team. I’m not the biggest fan of this kind of draft capital being used for a shared position, but I really like Hampton’s game! He’s got great vision in the backfield and hits the holes hard and fast. He’s got solid stability, nothing like Jeanty, but still good enough for the next level. He should also be a decent threat in the passing game, but I think this may not be the best positional value for the Chargers.

1.23 | Green Bay Packers | Matthew Golden (WR) | A-

He’s a bit undersized, but is decently strong at the catch point. His smaller stature serves as an advantage in route running, with a strong ability to quickly pivot without showing his hand. It will require a bit of time to build chemistry, but Jordan will love his ability to cut into gaps in the defense. There’s a half-second window where Golden will be wide open on every play, and I believe this is a team that can take advantage of that.

1.24 | Minnesota Vikings | Donovan Jackson (IOL) | C+

Jackson has a shorter arm length and isn’t excellent at controlling the defender in run defense. He’s a pass protection guy, and probably above average at standing up the defender and fast enough feet to impede speed rushers. The Vikings would benefit from great pass protection, but I wonder if this was the right player and time to take care of that.

1.25 | New York Giants | Jaxson Dart (QB) | D

I was watching the Micah Parsons live draft broadcast, and he may or may not have given away the fact that a Giants player both knew the pick was coming and wasn’t happy about it. It seems likely he was telling the truth, as he called the Dart pick minutes before it became official. My completely speculative guess: Malik Nabers was told about and was against this draft selection. After watching the film, I’d have to agree with the unnamed source. Dart is capable enough at hitting an open receiver, but that’s only enough to get you a backup job in the NFL. His ball placement is not where it needs to be. He’ll slow down Nabers in YAC by throwing it behind him, and he’ll create turnovers when targeting his other options. He had good placement on occasion, but was that random chance or something he can do more consistently with time?

1.26 | Atlanta Falcons | James Pearce Jr (EDGE) | D-

Two first-round defensive linemen for the Falcons! The trade-up also cost them a ton of value, which is a bit surprising, especially when compared to the trade the Giants made just one pick earlier. To make matters even worse, I’m pretty unimpressed by Pearce’s film. Most of his highlight plays come as a result of offensive mistakes. Sleeping tackles, passers who didn’t consider his length, delayed blitzes that were missed, and multiple plays where Pearce happens to run into the ball carrier with his eyes away from the play. I fear this draft could be disastrous for the Falcons.

1.27 | Baltimore Ravens | Malaki Starks (S) | A+

Safeties are rarely taken in the first round, but I find that teams who take advantage of this fact often profit from doing so. Starks has shades of Derwin James with impressive talent in man coverage, an excellent ability to track the play, and disrupt the running game as well as the passing game. He’s got high intelligence and is excellent at all three levels. Is it too early for a safety? Maybe, but it’s not too early for this safety.

1.28 | Detroit Lions | Tyleik Williams (DL) | B

He keeps his head up well, and that fact, combined with his strength, will make him valuable as a run stopper. He’s sneakily quick and could garner a couple of sacks per year in the passing game, but his main purpose on this team will be to contain the edge and stop the run. I think there are many veterans who could have been added to fill this need, so I wonder if this pick could’ve been better used elsewhere with better planning, though I don’t hate his game.

1.29 | Washington Commanders | Josh Conerly Jr. (OT) | C-

This is the third offensive tackle the commanders have acquired this offseason, so it’s a bit surprising to see them use this pick in this way. Conerly has a solid base and good enough hand technique to succeed on the next level, but he’s a bit too formulaic in protection. This is especially clear on pull blocks and screen plays, where he looks more like he’s following orders than affecting the play. I don’t think this was a huge position of need, nor do I think this was an upside pick to any degree. 

1.30 | Buffalo Bills | Maxwell Hairston (CB) | B

He’s not great in man coverage, which is my preferred skillset for a cornerback, but the Bills run a zone defense about 75% of the time. I’m a fan of his closing speed and his ability to disrupt plays that are in his vicinity. He finds himself out of position more often than I’d like, but I think this is a great scheme fit at a position of need, so it’s hard to grade it too harshly.

1.31 | Philadelphia Eagles | Jihaad Campbell (LB) | B

Campbell has great play awareness in zone coverage and the run game. He’s got a great degree of intelligence and can react quickly to the ball. I’m not super impressed by his athleticism, but I’d take mind over body if you forced me to choose at this position. He feels to me like a guy you could find in the late 2nd round, but one that’d be worth the exact value that the Eagles paid.

1.32 | Kansas City Chiefs | Josh Simmons (OT) | B+

Bottom 21st percentile in arm length… Are all the tackles in this draft going to be undersized? Simmons strikes me as a tricky tackle, often showing a run when a pass is coming and vice versa. He is better in pass protection than run blocking, but seems solid enough at each. I wonder if he’ll be able to find as much success against NFL-level talent, and his hand technique is only pretty good, but overall, he’s a decent find at the bottom of the first.

Takeaways

I had a fairly even distribution of grades, giving out 11 As, 11 Bs, and 10 Cs or lower. The Seahawks, Steelers, and Ravens walk away with the only A+ grades for finding day one contributors with elite upside late in the draft. The Dolphins, Giants, and Falcons received the worst grades for reaching for talent with limited upside and underwhelming instincts.

Comparing my grades against some of the major outlets, I seem to be way lower on Jeanty at 6th to the Raiders, and Jackson at 24th to the Vikings, and way higher on Grey Zabel at 18th to the Seahawks and Derrick Harmon at 21st to the Steelers than the consensus. It’ll be interesting to track those four players in particular to see just how good I am at speed scouting.

If you enjoyed Speed Scouting, leave a like or comment. If this article gets either 10,000 likes or 3 comments, I’ll do this again for the NBA Draft.