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Browns top draft rankings, Cowboys win big, Jaguars falter

4/29/2026

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Summary

Story summary

The Cleveland Browns were ranked No. 1 by The Athletic’s Dane Brugger and earned an A grade from B/R’s Kristopher Knox.
Mel Kiper Jr. named the Dallas Cowboys the draft’s biggest winner after they chose safety Caleb Downs, pass rusher Malachi Lawrence and made five of seven defensive picks.
The Jacksonville Jaguars earned a D grade and finished at the bottom of the draft rankings.

History

Historical Context

The Rams’ 1999 draft moved former Arena player Kurt Warner to starter after Trent Green’s preseason ACL tear, pairing him with Marshall Faulk and Isaac Bruce. Warner’s 4,353-yard, 41-TD season propelled St. Louis to a 13-3 record and a Super Bowl XXXIV win on Jan 30 2000, illustrating how a single draft reshaped a franchise’s fortunes.

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Story summary

The Cleveland Browns were ranked No. 1 by The Athletic’s Dane Brugger and earned an A grade from B/R’s Kristopher Knox.
Mel Kiper Jr. named the Dallas Cowboys the draft’s biggest winner after they chose safety Caleb Downs, pass rusher Malachi Lawrence and made five of seven defensive picks.
The Jacksonville Jaguars earned a D grade and finished at the bottom of the draft rankings.

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