Sam Monson pushed back on the idea that Cleveland will need multiple seasons to figure out whether Dillon Gabriel (and fellow rookie Shedeur Sanders) can be real answers at quarterback. He pointed to historical outliers—Russell Wilson, Dak Prescott, and even undrafted Tony Romo—who made it obvious in training camp or within a handful of starts that their draft slot was a mistake. Because late-round QBs receive a much shorter leash, Monson expects the Browns’ staff to know by mid-season 2025 whether Gabriel belongs in long-term plans. Dynasty managers can therefore treat Gabriel as a cheap lottery ticket with an unusually fast time-to-resolution: roster him now, monitor his first six-to-eight games, and be ready to pivot if he does not flash immediately. The low opportunity cost of a third-round NFL pick means Cleveland will move on quickly if he is not that guy, giving fantasy GMs an early exit ramp without clogging roster spots all year.

Steve Palazzolo called Mike Green the draft’s No. 2 edge on pure tape behind Abdul Carter and predicted the rookie will log 25-30 snaps a game as Baltimore’s designated pass-rush spark behind Kyle Van Noy and Odafe Oweh. Although Green fell to Pick 59 because of multiple sexual-assault allegations and being kicked out of a prior program, Palazzolo stressed the on-field profile: a 23.5% pressure rate at Marshall, dominant Senior Bowl rep versus Taliese Fuaga, and a standout performance against Ohio State that eased small-school concerns. Arif Hasan’s consensus board graded Green as the second-best "value" selection in the entire draft, giving Baltimore a first-round talent on a second-round contract. Palazzolo believes Green’s ability to win with both bend and long-arm power will translate immediately, improving a Ravens pass rush that finished 20th in ESPN’s pass-rush win rate last season. The upside, he said, is a cheap double-digit-sack producer by 2026—making Green a dynasty stash in IDP and a reason bettors might lean toward Ravens under-opponent sack props sooner than later.

Steve Palazzolo said Malaki Starks should step straight into the Marcus Williams vacancy as Baltimore’s free safety and give Mike Macdonald the flexibility to move Kyle Hamilton wherever matchups dictate. Palazzolo highlighted Starks’ 4.4 speed, proven slot-coverage reps at Georgia, and ball-skills that produced 5 INTs over two seasons, including the signature freshman high-point pick he referenced. Because Starks has already handled deep-middle, slot and even outside-corner snaps in the SEC, Palazzolo expects Baltimore’s secondary to rotate disguises again, freeing Hamilton for more box/blitz work — a boost for IDP managers and a reason to keep the Ravens D/ST in the top fantasy tier. Draft-capital context mattered too: Starks was the consensus No. 1 safety yet slid to the back of Round 1, so Baltimore extracted first-round value without sacrificing other premium picks. Palazzolo concluded Starks’ versatility plus Hamilton’s Swiss-army-knife profile "lets the Ravens play coverage on their terms from Day 1."

Steve Palazzolo cautioned fantasy managers and bettors not to assume Shemar Stewart will blossom into a high-end pass rusher. Palazzolo emphasized that despite elite traits, Stewart never topped two sacks in a season and his pressure rate remains below recent first-round benchmarks like Rashan Gary, Tyree Wilson, and Travon Walker. He also flagged poor change-of-direction skills and an alarming tendency to whiff tackles, warning that those flaws could cap Stewart’s early snap counts and stunt his sack totals. Until the rookie proves he can convert athleticism into consistent production, Palazzolo advised fading Bengals D/ST futures and avoiding Stewart in IDP drafts outside deep stash territory.

Sam Monson said Shemar Stewart’s eye-popping power should translate right away for Cincinnati’s defensive front. Monson highlighted Stewart’s 34-inch arms, 84-inch wingspan, 4.59 forty, 1.58 ten-yard split, and 40-inch vertical as rare measurables that fuel an "absolutely devastating" bull rush. He believes that sheer linear explosiveness will let the rookie forklift NFL tackles into the quarterback even if Stewart never develops a secondary move. Monson expects immediate disruption versus both run and pass, projecting Stewart as an IDP sack/pressure streamer and a reason to upgrade the Bengals D/ST ceiling in season-long formats.

Steve Palazzolo highlighted Tez Johnson as a classic Round-7 dart throw who actually offers the Buccaneers something their stacked receiver corps lacks – pure jitterbug quickness. Although Johnson’s combine 4.51 forty underwhelmed, Palazzolo stressed that "the defense seems to think he’s quick" on film and referenced Senior Bowl reps where the 173-pounder repeatedly made corners fall over with inside-out releases. Tampa already boasts Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Emeka Egbuka and Trey Palmer, but none possess Johnson’s sudden stop-start ability that mirrors Tank Dell’s rookie-year separation profile. Palazzolo believes that unique trait, plus potential punt-return duties, creates a realistic path to active-game-day status even as WR5. Dynasty GMs should treat him like Dell was treated last summer – a cheap stash with spike-week appeal – while best-ball drafters can burn their final pick on a player who might pop the first time a 49ers-style motion package frees him over the middle.

Steve Palazzolo labeled Shedeur Sanders at pick 170 “the best value in the entire draft” because Cleveland’s depth chart offers a clear runway. Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett are on one-year deals, and Kevin Stefanski’s offense leans on play-action (30% rate) and defined reads that mirror the scheme Sanders excelled in at Colorado (70.1% adjusted completion on play-action). Palazzolo cited Sanders’ lightning-quick release (2.4-second average time to throw) and plus pocket movement that produced a mere 11 turnover-worthy plays on 527 dropbacks. He believes a preseason QB competition is realistic, projecting Sanders to start games by December if Pickett struggles. Dynasty managers were urged to stash him, while bettors could sprinkle long-shot Offensive Rookie of the Year tickets at 125-1 given the plausible path to snaps.

Steve Palazzolo praised Carolina for taking Tetairoa McMillan at No. 8 instead of forcing an edge rusher, calling the move “mature team-building.” He views McMillan as a top-10 overall talent: 6'4" frame, huge catch radius, 72% contested-catch rate at Arizona and a route tree that wins on slants, digs and deep posts. Palazzolo believes the pick lifts Bryce Young’s efficiency immediately because the big body shifts Xavier Legette into a complementary role and takes defensive attention off TE Jatavian Sanders. He highlighted Young’s final six-game stretch (104.1 passer rating, 8.2 aDOT) and said adding a high-volume possession target should sustain that surge. Palazzolo projects McMillan for 120+ targets as a rookie with red-zone dominance, making him a priority in best-ball rounds 7-8 and a dark-horse OROY ticket at +2500.

Sam Monson said Luther Burden falling to pick 39 gives Chicago an immediate YAC monster who has already flashed top-10 talent. Monson reminded listeners that 2023 Burden posted first-round caliber tape – electric open-field elusiveness, contact balance and a 30% target share at Missouri – before injuries and rumored maturity questions dinged his stock. He loves the ecosystem the rookie walks into: Ben Johnson calling plays, a rebuilt offensive line ranked top-10 in pass-block win rate last year, and Caleb Williams’ off-script creativity drawing constant two-high shells. With DJ Moore and Keenan Allen commanding bracket coverage, Monson expects Burden to face the third corner on most snaps and manufacture chunk gains on jet motion and screens. He framed Burden as a dynasty and redraft flex with WR2 ceiling by mid-season and noted his broken-tackle rate (0.33 per touch) fits perfectly with Johnson’s spacing concepts.

Sam Monson said Caleb Williams is primed for a classic sophomore surge in fantasy and betting markets because Chicago completely re-engineered his ecosystem. He pointed first to the hiring of Ben Johnson, noting Detroit’s former coordinator has produced top-five EPA offenses in back-to-back seasons and consistently elevated Jared Goff with heavy play-action and motion. Monson then rattled off the Bears’ trench overhaul—trading for guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson plus center Drew Dalman—which gives Williams three new starters after Chicago ranked 28th in pass-block win rate last year. He highlighted Johnson’s history of building around dominant O-lines and expects a cleaner pocket to unlock Williams’ deep-ball success rate that sat just 31 % as a rookie. Draft additions Colston Loveland (mismatch tight end) and Luther Burden (YAC-driven slot weapon) provide the catch-and-run threats Johnson leans on, replacing vacated Keenan Allen targets. Monson referenced the league-wide trend of quarterbacks making massive year-two jumps—citing Burrow, Lamar, and Mahomes—as further precedent. All told, he advised treating Williams as a buy-low in season-long and best-ball formats and sprinkling early MVP shares at current 30-1 odds before camp buzz closes the window.