Giving Draft Grades
If you’re a fan of football, it’s quite likely that you’ve seen the draft grades presented to every pick in the NFL draft. They’ve become so ubiquitous that almost every sports publication in existence provides letter grades to each pick, and any follower of an NFL team is almost guaranteed to have checked in on their team’s early-round grades. I definitely want to accomplish something like this for my league, and I should be able to do so without much difficulty now that I have my “Deltas” calculated. As a first pass, I am going to arbitrarily set boundaries for the letter grades.
Not terrible, but not great. I think there should be more picks rewarded with an A+. But I don’t want these grades to be inflated, I’m still grading on the curve. After all, I am the son of two high school teachers. Let’s try that again…
There we go! That’s a lot closer to the beautiful curve I’m looking for. Because I’m nice, I’ll let the true average be a C+ instead of a C, but I’m not nice enough to be opposed to 4% of the class failing. Let’s give some grades to the teams as well, but because these are aggregates, I am going to tweak the grades a little bit by dividing the total “Delta” for each team by a factor that will give at least one team an “A+” and one team an “F”.
Final 2022 Draft grades for every team in my league
And there we have it. I’ve assigned a final grade to every team in the draft (above) and every pick in the draft (below). It might not have been the most sophisticated process mathematically speaking, but I am happy with the results. And NOT just because I gave myself an A. Or maybe it is… but hey, I’m the one doing all the work here.
| Round | Total Pick | Player Name | Position | Picked By | Total Points | Expected Points | Delta | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Jonathan Taylor | RB | TUA the TOP | 146.4 | 319.2 | -172.8 | F |
| 1 | 2 | Christian McCaffrey | RB | Chads presented by Kroger | 356.4 | 291.9 | 64.5 | B+ |
| 1 | 3 | Cooper Kupp | WR | I Miss Cooper Kupp | 201.4 | 337.8 | -136.4 | F |
| 1 | 4 | Justin Jefferson | WR | Calvin Ridley's Bookies | 368.7 | 321.6 | 47 | B |
| 1 | 5 | Austin Ekeler | RB | Easy Breecy Covergirl | 372.7 | 255.7 | 117 | A+ |
| 1 | 6 | Ja'Marr Chase | WR | Nickelback's Nickelbacks | 242.4 | 298.9 | -56.5 | D+ |
| 1 | 7 | Derrick Henry | RB | The Sun God | 302.8 | 242.5 | 60.3 | B+ |
| 1 | 8 | Dalvin Cook | RB | 36 ACT | 237.8 | 237.2 | 0.6 | C+ |
| 1 | 9 | Najee Harris | RB | Bone Heads Rick | 223.5 | 232.5 | -9.1 | C+ |
| 1 | 10 | Davante Adams | WR | Bob's Buttfumbles | 335.5 | 270.2 | 65.3 | B+ |
| 2 | 11 | Alvin Kamara | RB | Bob's Buttfumbles | 211.7 | 224.6 | -12.9 | C |
| 2 | 12 | Leonard Fournette | RB | Bone Heads Rick | 226.1 | 221.2 | 4.9 | C+ |
| 2 | 13 | CeeDee Lamb | WR | 36 ACT | 301.6 | 255.5 | 46.1 | B |
| 2 | 14 | D'Andre Swift | RB | The Sun God | 191.1 | 215.1 | -24 | C |
| 2 | 15 | Stefon Diggs | WR | Nickelback's Nickelbacks | 316.6 | 247.5 | 69.1 | B+ |
| 2 | 16 | Deebo Samuel | WR | Easy Breecy Covergirl | 168.4 | 243.9 | -75.5 | D |
| 2 | 17 | Travis Kelce | TE | Calvin Ridley's Bookies | 316.3 | 228.6 | 87.7 | A- |
| 2 | 18 | Joe Mixon | RB | I Miss Cooper Kupp | 239.5 | 205.2 | 34.3 | B |
| 2 | 19 | Tyreek Hill | WR | Chads presented by Kroger | 347.2 | 234.2 | 113 | A+ |
| 2 | 20 | Keenan Allen | WR | TUA the TOP | 164 | 231.3 | -67.3 | D+ |
| 3 | 21 | Aaron Jones | RB | TUA the TOP | 248.6 | 199.1 | 49.5 | B |
| 3 | 22 | Mark Andrews | TE | Chads presented by Kroger | 190.5 | 213.1 | -22.6 | C |
| 3 | 23 | James Conner | RB | I Miss Cooper Kupp | 200.2 | 195.5 | 4.7 | C+ |
| 3 | 24 | Javonte Williams | RB | Calvin Ridley's Bookies | 42 | 193.8 | -151.8 | F |
| 3 | 25 | Tee Higgins | WR | Easy Breecy Covergirl | 220.9 | 218.8 | 2.1 | C+ |
| 3 | 26 | Cam Akers | RB | Nickelback's Nickelbacks | 141.3 | 190.7 | -49.4 | C- |
| 3 | 27 | Mike Evans | WR | The Sun God | 225.4 | 214.5 | 10.9 | B- |
| 3 | 28 | Saquon Barkley | RB | 36 ACT | 284 | 187.8 | 96.2 | A |
| 3 | 29 | Michael Pittman Jr. | WR | Bone Heads Rick | 216.5 | 210.5 | 6 | C+ |
| 3 | 30 | Ezekiel Elliott | RB | Bob's Buttfumbles | 185.8 | 185 | 0.8 | C+ |
| 4 | 31 | DJ Moore | WR | Bob's Buttfumbles | 199.1 | 206.8 | -7.7 | C+ |
| 4 | 32 | Diontae Johnson | WR | Bone Heads Rick | 180.7 | 205 | -24.3 | C |
| 4 | 33 | Terry McLaurin | WR | 36 ACT | 229 | 203.3 | 25.7 | B- |
| 4 | 34 | A.J. Brown | WR | The Sun God | 299.6 | 201.6 | 98 | A |
| 4 | 35 | David Montgomery | RB | Nickelback's Nickelbacks | 177.7 | 178.9 | -1.2 | C+ |
| 4 | 36 | Breece Hall | RB | Easy Breecy Covergirl | 115.1 | 177.8 | -62.7 | D+ |
| 4 | 37 | Nick Chubb | RB | Calvin Ridley's Bookies | 281.4 | 176.8 | 104.6 | A |
| 4 | 38 | Travis Etienne Jr. | RB | I Miss Cooper Kupp | 205.1 | 175.7 | 29.4 | B- |
| 4 | 39 | Mike Williams | WR | Chads presented by Kroger | 176.5 | 193.9 | -17.4 | C |
| 4 | 40 | Brandin Cooks | WR | TUA the TOP | 145.6 | 192.5 | -46.9 | C- |
| 5 | 41 | Jaylen Waddle | WR | TUA the TOP | 259.2 | 191.1 | 68.1 | B+ |
| 5 | 42 | Kyle Pitts | TE | Chads presented by Kroger | 75.6 | 174.2 | -98.6 | D- |
| 5 | 43 | Josh Allen | QB | I Miss Cooper Kupp | 395.5 | 334.5 | 61 | B+ |
| 5 | 44 | Courtland Sutton | WR | Calvin Ridley's Bookies | 159.4 | 187.1 | -27.7 | C |
| 5 | 45 | Jerry Jeudy | WR | Easy Breecy Covergirl | 204.2 | 185.9 | 18.3 | B- |
| 5 | 46 | Patrick Mahomes | QB | Nickelback's Nickelbacks | 417.4 | 327.3 | 90.1 | A |
| 5 | 47 | Justin Herbert | QB | The Sun God | 281.3 | 325.1 | -43.8 | C- |
| 5 | 48 | Darren Waller | TE | 36 ACT | 84.8 | 166.1 | -81.3 | D |
| 5 | 49 | DK Metcalf | WR | Bone Heads Rick | 226.8 | 181.1 | 45.7 | B |
| 5 | 50 | Josh Jacobs | RB | Bob's Buttfumbles | 328.3 | 164.9 | 163.4 | A+ |
| 6 | 51 | George Kittle | TE | Bob's Buttfumbles | 200.5 | 162.5 | 38 | B |
| 6 | 52 | J.K. Dobbins | RB | Bone Heads Rick | 81.2 | 163.3 | -82.1 | D |
| 6 | 53 | Michael Thomas | WR | 36 ACT | 51.1 | 176.7 | -125.6 | F |
| 6 | 54 | Amon-Ra St. Brown | WR | The Sun God | 267.6 | 175.6 | 92 | A |
| 6 | 55 | Darnell Mooney | WR | Nickelback's Nickelbacks | 101.5 | 174.6 | -73.1 | D |
| 6 | 56 | Marquise Brown | WR | Easy Breecy Covergirl | 156 | 173.6 | -17.6 | C |
| 6 | 57 | Allen Robinson II | WR | Calvin Ridley's Bookies | 84.9 | 172.6 | -87.7 | D |
| 6 | 58 | Chris Godwin | WR | I Miss Cooper Kupp | 222.8 | 171.6 | 51.2 | B+ |
| 6 | 59 | Gabe Davis | WR | Chads presented by Kroger | 171.6 | 170.7 | 0.9 | C+ |
| 6 | 60 | Devin Singletary | RB | TUA the TOP | 177.9 | 157.7 | 20.2 | B- |
| 7 | 61 | Dalton Schultz | TE | TUA the TOP | 142.7 | 151.7 | -9 | C+ |
| 7 | 62 | Clyde Edwards-Helaire | RB | Chads presented by Kroger | 98.3 | 156.4 | -58.1 | D+ |
| 7 | 63 | Elijah Mitchell | RB | I Miss Cooper Kupp | 43.6 | 155.8 | -112.2 | F |
| 7 | 64 | Jalen Hurts | QB | Calvin Ridley's Bookies | 378 | 292.3 | 85.7 | A- |
| 7 | 65 | Lamar Jackson | QB | Easy Breecy Covergirl | 236.1 | 290.7 | -54.6 | D+ |
| 7 | 66 | T.J. Hockenson | TE | Nickelback's Nickelbacks | 215.4 | 147 | 68.4 | B+ |
| 7 | 67 | Rhamondre Stevenson | RB | The Sun God | 249.1 | 153.3 | 95.8 | A |
| 7 | 68 | Adam Thielen | WR | 36 ACT | 180 | 162.7 | 17.3 | B- |
| 7 | 69 | Dallas Goedert | TE | Bone Heads Rick | 141.2 | 144.3 | -3.1 | C+ |
| 7 | 70 | Kyler Murray | QB | Bob's Buttfumbles | 200.5 | 282.8 | -82.3 | D |
| 8 | 71 | Hunter Renfrow | WR | Bob's Buttfumbles | 79 | 160.3 | -81.3 | D |
| 8 | 72 | Zach Ertz | TE | Bone Heads Rick | 115.6 | 141.7 | -26.1 | C |
| 8 | 73 | Dameon Pierce | RB | 36 ACT | 166.4 | 149.9 | 16.5 | B- |
| 8 | 74 | Dawson Knox | TE | The Sun God | 135.7 | 140.1 | -4.4 | C+ |
| 8 | 75 | JuJu Smith-Schuster | WR | Nickelback's Nickelbacks | 185.3 | 157.2 | 28.1 | B- |
| 8 | 76 | Miles Sanders | RB | Easy Breecy Covergirl | 216.7 | 148.3 | 68.4 | B+ |
| 8 | 77 | Chase Edmonds | RB | Calvin Ridley's Bookies | 74.2 | 147.8 | -73.6 | D |
| 8 | 78 | Amari Cooper | WR | I Miss Cooper Kupp | 246 | 155 | 91 | A |
| 8 | 79 | Dak Prescott | QB | Chads presented by Kroger | 198.6 | 270 | -71.4 | D |
| 8 | 80 | Aaron Rodgers | QB | TUA the TOP | 239.2 | 268.7 | -29.5 | C |
| 9 | 81 | Christian Kirk | WR | TUA the TOP | 241.9 | 152.9 | 89 | A- |
| 9 | 82 | Rashod Bateman | WR | Chads presented by Kroger | 53.5 | 152.2 | -98.7 | D- |
| 9 | 83 | Elijah Moore | WR | I Miss Cooper Kupp | 88.1 | 151.5 | -63.4 | D+ |
| 9 | 84 | DeVonta Smith | WR | Calvin Ridley's Bookies | 254.6 | 150.8 | 103.8 | A |
| 9 | 85 | Drake London | WR | Easy Breecy Covergirl | 178.6 | 150.2 | 28.4 | B- |
| 9 | 86 | Kareem Hunt | RB | Nickelback's Nickelbacks | 126.8 | 143.5 | -16.7 | C |
| 9 | 87 | Allen Lazard | WR | The Sun God | 174.8 | 148.9 | 25.9 | B- |
| 9 | 88 | Cordarrelle Patterson | RB | 36 ACT | 154.7 | 142.6 | 12.1 | B- |
| 9 | 89 | Tyler Lockett | WR | Bone Heads Rick | 237.3 | 147.6 | 89.7 | A- |
| 9 | 90 | DeAndre Hopkins | WR | Bob's Buttfumbles | 151.7 | 147 | 4.7 | C+ |
| 10 | 91 | Antonio Gibson | RB | Bob's Buttfumbles | 165.9 | 141.2 | 24.7 | B- |
| 10 | 92 | Tom Brady | QB | Bone Heads Rick | 271.7 | 253.9 | 17.8 | B- |
| 10 | 93 | Robert Woods | WR | 36 ACT | 115.7 | 145.1 | -29.4 | C |
| 10 | 94 | AJ Dillon | RB | The Sun God | 167.6 | 140 | 27.6 | B- |
| 10 | 95 | Chase Claypool | WR | Nickelback's Nickelbacks | 105 | 143.9 | -38.9 | C- |
| 10 | 96 | Damien Harris | RB | Easy Breecy Covergirl | 90.9 | 139.1 | -48.2 | C- |
| 10 | 97 | Kadarius Toney | WR | Calvin Ridley's Bookies | 57.3 | 142.8 | -85.5 | D |
| 10 | 98 | Brandon Aiyuk | WR | I Miss Cooper Kupp | 227.8 | 142.2 | 85.6 | A- |
| 10 | 99 | Tony Pollard | RB | Chads presented by Kroger | 248.8 | 137.9 | 110.9 | A+ |
| 10 | 100 | Melvin Gordon III | RB | TUA the TOP | 87.1 | 137.5 | -50.4 | D+ |
| 11 | 101 | Hunter Henry | TE | TUA the TOP | 103.9 | 121.4 | -17.5 | C |
| 11 | 102 | Russell Wilson | QB | Chads presented by Kroger | 225.8 | 242.9 | -17.2 | C |
| 11 | 103 | Chris Olave | WR | I Miss Cooper Kupp | 198.2 | 139.4 | 58.8 | B+ |
| 11 | 104 | Rashaad Penny | RB | Calvin Ridley's Bookies | 52.2 | 136 | -83.8 | D |
| 11 | 105 | Pat Freiermuth | TE | Easy Breecy Covergirl | 148.2 | 119 | 29.2 | B- |
| 11 | 106 | Michael Carter | RB | Nickelback's Nickelbacks | 126 | 135.2 | -9.2 | C+ |
| 11 | 107 | Cole Kmet | TE | The Sun God | 147.3 | 117.9 | 29.4 | B- |
| 11 | 108 | Skyy Moore | WR | 36 ACT | 43.4 | 136.7 | -93.3 | D- |
| 11 | 109 | James Robinson | RB | Bone Heads Rick | 88.6 | 134.1 | -45.5 | C- |
| 11 | 110 | Mike Gesicki | TE | Bob's Buttfumbles | 98.2 | 116.2 | -18 | C |
| 12 | 111 | Garrett Wilson | WR | Bob's Buttfumbles | 215.7 | 135.2 | 80.5 | A- |
| 12 | 112 | Jakobi Meyers | WR | Bone Heads Rick | 180.3 | 134.7 | 45.6 | B |
| 12 | 113 | Chuba Hubbard | RB | 36 ACT | 87.7 | 132.7 | -45 | C- |
| 12 | 114 | Joe Burrow | QB | The Sun God | 350.7 | 231.1 | 119.6 | A+ |
| 12 | 115 | Tyler Boyd | WR | Nickelback's Nickelbacks | 167.1 | 133.2 | 33.9 | B |
| 12 | 116 | Matthew Stafford | QB | Easy Breecy Covergirl | 108.4 | 229.3 | -120.9 | F |
| 12 | 117 | Treylon Burks | WR | Calvin Ridley's Bookies | 94.1 | 132.3 | -38.2 | C- |
| 12 | 118 | Kenneth Walker III | RB | I Miss Cooper Kupp | 202.5 | 131 | 71.5 | A- |
| 12 | 119 | Trey Lance | QB | Chads presented by Kroger | 12.5 | 226.6 | -214.1 | F |
| 12 | 120 | Kirk Cousins | QB | TUA the TOP | 291.6 | 225.7 | 65.9 | B+ |
| 13 | 121 | Matt Gay | K | TUA the TOP | 131 | 135.9 | -4.9 | C+ |
| 13 | 122 | Marquez Valdes-Scantling | WR | Chads presented by Kroger | 122.4 | 129.9 | -7.5 | C+ |
| 13 | 123 | Jahan Dotson | WR | I Miss Cooper Kupp | 130.6 | 129.4 | 1.2 | C+ |
| 13 | 124 | Evan McPherson | K | Calvin Ridley's Bookies | 126 | 135 | -9 | C+ |
| 13 | 125 | Russell Gage | WR | Easy Breecy Covergirl | 123.6 | 128.5 | -4.9 | C+ |
| 13 | 126 | Bills D/ST | D/ST | Nickelback's Nickelbacks | 138 | 125.1 | 12.9 | B- |
| 13 | 127 | Justin Tucker | K | The Sun God | 158 | 134.2 | 23.8 | B- |
| 13 | 128 | Randall Cobb | WR | 36 ACT | 81.7 | 127.2 | -45.5 | C- |
| 13 | 129 | Marvin Jones Jr. | WR | Bone Heads Rick | 116.9 | 126.8 | -9.9 | C+ |
| 13 | 130 | Buccaneers D/ST | D/ST | Bob's Buttfumbles | 97 | 123 | -26 | C |
| 14 | 131 | Daniel Carlson | K | Bob's Buttfumbles | 159 | 133.2 | 25.8 | B- |
| 14 | 132 | Derek Carr | QB | Bone Heads Rick | 219.1 | 215.6 | 3.5 | C+ |
| 14 | 133 | Saints D/ST | D/ST | 36 ACT | 105 | 121.5 | -16.5 | C |
| 14 | 134 | Tyler Allgeier | RB | The Sun God | 159.4 | 126 | 33.4 | B |
| 14 | 135 | Harrison Butker | K | Nickelback's Nickelbacks | 97 | 132.2 | -35.2 | C- |
| 14 | 136 | DJ Chark | WR | Easy Breecy Covergirl | 98.2 | 123.8 | -25.6 | C |
| 14 | 137 | Joshua Palmer | WR | Calvin Ridley's Bookies | 169.3 | 123.4 | 45.9 | B |
| 14 | 138 | Packers D/ST | D/ST | I Miss Cooper Kupp | 105 | 119 | -14 | C |
| 14 | 139 | Ravens D/ST | D/ST | Chads presented by Kroger | 129 | 118.5 | 10.5 | B- |
| 14 | 140 | Cowboys D/ST | D/ST | TUA the TOP | 153 | 118.1 | 34.9 | B |
| 15 | 141 | Jarvis Landry | WR | TUA the TOP | 60.2 | 121.8 | -61.6 | D+ |
| 15 | 142 | Brandon McManus | K | Chads presented by Kroger | 127 | 130.5 | -3.5 | C+ |
| 15 | 143 | Tyler Bass | K | I Miss Cooper Kupp | 139 | 130.2 | 8.8 | C+ |
| 15 | 144 | Darrell Henderson Jr. | RB | Calvin Ridley's Bookies | 73.5 | 123.1 | -49.6 | C- |
| 15 | 145 | 49ers D/ST | D/ST | Easy Breecy Covergirl | 156 | 115.7 | 40.3 | B |
| 15 | 146 | George Pickens | WR | Nickelback's Nickelbacks | 166.5 | 119.8 | 46.7 | B |
| 15 | 147 | Colts D/ST | D/ST | The Sun God | 106 | 114.8 | -8.8 | C+ |
| 15 | 148 | Matt Prater | K | 36 ACT | 96 | 129.1 | -33.1 | C- |
| 15 | 149 | Dolphins D/ST | D/ST | Bone Heads Rick | 89 | 113.9 | -24.9 | C |
| 15 | 150 | Trevor Lawrence | QB | Bob's Buttfumbles | 295.6 | 202 | 93.6 | A |
| 16 | 151 | Nyheim Hines | RB | Bob's Buttfumbles | 81.4 | 121.3 | -39.9 | C- |
| 16 | 152 | Nick Folk | K | Bone Heads Rick | 141 | 128.2 | 12.8 | B- |
| 16 | 153 | Justin Fields | QB | 36 ACT | 296 | 199.9 | 96 | A |
| 16 | 154 | Rondale Moore | WR | The Sun God | 87.9 | 116.8 | -28.9 | C |
| 16 | 155 | Kenny Golladay | WR | Nickelback's Nickelbacks | 20.1 | 116.5 | -96.4 | D- |
| 16 | 156 | Graham Gano | K | Easy Breecy Covergirl | 142 | 127.3 | 14.7 | B- |
| 16 | 157 | Broncos D/ST | D/ST | Calvin Ridley's Bookies | 102 | 110.4 | -8.4 | C+ |
| 16 | 158 | Noah Fant | TE | I Miss Cooper Kupp | 122.6 | 94.4 | 28.2 | B- |
| 16 | 159 | James Cook | RB | Chads presented by Kroger | 105.7 | 119.2 | -13.5 | C |
| 16 | 160 | Robbie Anderson | WR | TUA the TOP | 52.2 | 114.7 | -62.5 | D+ |
