Pick-by-pick, here's what I think:

1 (21) – Chop Richardson – For one thing, in my mock drafts I had Latu, Verse and Turner as the edge rushers worth taking at 21 and Chop was the odd guy out. For another, I think highly of Terrion Arnold and thought he would help right away and be a solid player in the long run. So I would’ve taken Arnold.

But I can’t criticize this pick. If the Fins’ brain trust think that the DL staff can get the best out of Chop, he might turn out to be the best of the whole edge group. He will probably be able to give some passing-down help right away.

2 (55) – Patrick Paul - Not the guy I would’ve taken, but this is kind of the same theme; if developed properly, he might turn out to be one of the top Ols in this draft.

What bums me, though, is that if we had taken Arnold and still needed an edge, Chris Braswell would’ve been available. I’m no scout and usually give analyst ratings a lot more weight than my own opinion in calculating draft prospects, but Chris Braswell is the one exception for 2024. I think he is significantly underrated and will be a stud.

I have a strong tendency not to put my own uninformed opinion in front of the FO but hard not to right this minute. If the Fins had drafted my way they would’ve come out of this with Terrion Arnold and Chris Braswell. Those two guys can change a defense.

4 (120) – Jaylen Wright – I would’ve picked Cade Stover, I think, as TE is more of a position of need but Grier/McDaniel got plusplusplus value picking a RB in the 3rd round last year so I will cut them some slack if they think this guy was a go code in the 4th. Yeah, the running back room doesn’t really have a vacancy near the top but two of the three guys we’re counting on are quite long in the tooth for running backs so there is need here. Also, I wouldn’t be surprised if Wright returns kickoffs.

5 (158) – Mohamad Kamara – While it’s true that the Fins already had 3 vet edges on the roster even before picking Robinson in the 1st, this is a solid pick at a high-salary position at this point in the draft. He will fight for PT early in the season and I wouldn’t be shocked if we see decent PT in September for both the new edges.

6 (184) – Malik Washington – stroke of luck to have this guy fall so far. We may finally have our #3 wideout. Nuff said.

6 (198) Patrick Morris – I don’t quite get this one. Why not a lineman, like Christian Mahogony on the interior or Tylan Grable at tackle? Oh well, it’s a crap shoot at this point in the draft anyway.

7 (241) Tahj Washington – I even more don’t get this one. It didn’t work out to get the OLs and/or DTs the Fins wanted early in the draft, but all the more reason to go for the bodies late. Instead of this guy adding to an already crowded room of marginal backup wideouts, why not go for Javien Cohen or Leonard Taylor III?

Oh well. I think this draft landed with a thud at the end but overall the team brought in a lot of talent. Robinson and Kamara will get thrown into the fire and should help the team through a tough patch at the beginning where young edge-rushers will be needed and hopefully with a little experience can be productive enough to keep Phillips and Chubb from having to hurry back.

Washington and Wright are two new weapons that should be out there getting solid playing time early in the season. In particular, if Wright pans out he will see a lot of time.

Both of the first two picks are probably in need of some development, but both are good value for their position in the draft. Very high ceiling on both of them, which will give us a good opportunity to see how this staff does at development.

I'm not overjoyed with this draft, but I'm happy with it.