Final 2026 NFL Draft grades for all 32 teams

The 2026 NFL Draft is now officially in the books. There were 257 players drafted over the course of three days, and while we won’t truly know the ramifications of this year’s draft class until at least 2029, that won’t stop us from doling out our final 2026 NFL Draft grades for all 32 teams. We’ll go through each team’s best pick, worst pick, and most intriguing pick and then give them a letter grade—A+ down to F—for their entire draft haul.

Arizona Cardinals

Best Pick: DT Kaleb Proctor, Southeastern Louisiana State (Round 4, Pick 104)

Worst Pick: RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame (Round 1, Pick 3) 

Most Interesting Pick: QB Carson Beck, Miami

The Cardinals had a boom-or-bust draft that could set them up for success or keep them several more years as the AFC West’s doormat. Jeremiyah Love is an excellent player, but drafting him at No. 3 and making him the seventh-highest-paid RB in the league without a QB or elite offensive line around him is simply a bad move.

Now, they also drafted OG Chase Bistontis in Round 2 and QB Carson Beck in Round 3. If those two players hit, the line and QB situation could look a lot different. As for Beck, there are plenty of red flags around his game, but the guy does win wherever he goes. It doesn’t seem likely he’s going to become a legit NFL starter, but he’s defied odds before.

Even the Cardinals’ best pick, DT Kaleb Proctor, is a gamble. Yes, he has all the tools to become an elite pass-rushing defensive tackle. But after playing at FCS SE Louisiana, can he survive the massive jump in competition? We’ll see.

Overall, the Cardinals get a pretty mid draft grade now, but depending on how these gambles turn out, that grade could go way up or way down a few years from now.

Grade: C+

Atlanta Falcons

Best Pick: CB Aveion Terrell, Clemson (Round 2, Pick 48)

Worst Pick: OT Ethan Onianwa, Ohio State (Round 7, Pick 231)

Most Interesting Pick: WR Zachariah Branch, Georgia (Round 3, Pick 79)

Aveion Terrell joining his brother as the top CB target for the Falcons is one of the best stories of the 2026 NFL Draft. And getting the talented CB in Round 2 was a steal as well. So, without a first-round pick, the Falcons did pretty well across the board. None of their picks were horrible, although Ethan Onianwa wasn’t really a starter at Ohio State.

The Zachariah Branch pick is intriguing because of his pure speed. He was a bubble screen merchant in college, and some of that will work in the NFL, but if he can find another gear to his game, there is a chance he turns into a real weapon. So, all-in-all, it wasn;t a bad weekend for the pick-starved Falcons, but they may not have gotten many true difference-makers.

Grade: C+

Baltimore Ravens

Best Pick: OG Vega Ioane, Penn State (Round 1, Pick 14)

Worst Pick: TE Matthew Hibner, SMU (Round 4, Pick 133)

Most Interesting Pick: WR Ja’Kobi Lane, USC (Round 3, Pick 80)

The Ravens did what the Ravens do in the 2026 NFL Draft. They stayed in their first-round spot and picked one of the most can’t-miss prospects in this class with Vega Ioane. They followed that up with EDGE Zion Young in Round 2, a prospect most had ranked about 20 spots higher.

What the Ravens did that was super interesting, though, was draft two huge WRs for Lamar Jackson to throw to. Ja’Kobi Lane is a nearly 6-foot-5 speedster with a ton of talent who just never quite put it together at USC with rough quarterback play. The other is Elijah Sarratt, Indiana’s red zone touchdown machine, who helped power the team to a national title.

Not all the picks were perfect. Matthew Hibner doesn’t seem to have much upside or current value beyond a TE3. Still, this draft helped support Jackson, which is the name of the game for this franchise if they want to make a Super Bowl.

Grade: A-

Buffalo Bills

Best Pick: S Jalon Kilgore, South Carolina (Round 5, Pick 167)

Worst Pick: EDGE T.J. Parker, Clemson (Round 2, Pick 35)

Most Interesting Pick: CB Davison Igbinosun, Ohio State (Round 2, Pick 62)

There is no sugar-coating this. The 2026 NFL Draft was absolutely horrible for Brandin Beane and the Bills. It started with three trades back, then they picked EDGE T.J. Parker, who fits the exact profile of the other recent high EDGE picks who have not worked out. They followed that up with CB Davison Igbinosun, who had a staggering 30 penalties in college. His size and athleticism are incredible, but he will remind Bills fans way too much of notorious bust Kaiir Elam.

Jalon Kilgore is a big, physical safety who should earn playing time this season, and WR Skyler Bell and LB Kaleb Elarms-Orr are decent picks, too. But taking another CB late as well as a redundant DT makes no sense. All this draft does is prove that Brandon Beane should have been pushed out with Sean McDermott.

Grade: D

Carolina Panthers

Best Pick: OT Monroe Freeling, Georgia (Round 1, Pick 19)

Worst Pick: WR Chris Brazzell II, Tennessee (Round 3, Pick 83)

Most Interesting Pick: DT Lee Hunter, Texas Tech (Round 2, Pick 49)

The Panthers did a good job overall, continuing to build around Bryce Young and through the trenches. Monroe Freeling is raw and inexperienced, but he has all the physical tools and was the best true left tackle prospect in this draft class. DT Lee Hunter is fascinating because he is the complete opposite. He tested poorly at the combine, but when you turn on the tape, he is a disruptive, run-stuffing machine in the middle of the defensive line.

Chris Brazzell II’s speed is intoxicating, especially at 6-foot-4, 198 pounds. If that elite speed can take the top off the defense for Tet McMillan and company, it will help the offense immensely. However, Tennessee speedsters like Jalin Hyatt, Cedric Tillman, and Velus Jones Jr. have all failed to make a mark in the pros. Brazzell seems like he could be the next in this mediocre line.

The Panthers did a generally good job, though, and watch out for fifth-round safety Zakee Wheatley becoming a starter as a rookie despite his low draft spot. Carolina did a fine job, even if the class isn’t super exciting.

Grade: B

Chicago Bears

Best Pick: S Dillon Thieneman, Oregon (Round 1, Pick 25)

Worst Pick: DT Jordan Van den Berg, Georgia Tech (Round 6, Pick 213)

Most Interesting Pick: WR Zavion Thomas, LSU (Round 3, Pick 89)

The Bears went hard on their needs, replacing Jaquan Brisker and Kevin Byard with the second-best safety in the draft, Dillon Thieneman, and beefing up positions of need on both sides. Even DT Jordan Van den Berg is only their “worst” pick because he is their last one. The Georgia Tech non-combine invitee has intriguing upside and athleticism.

In the middle rounds, the Bears may not have hit home runs, but they hit doubles and line-drive singles with each at-bat. Iowa center Logan Jones was made to be a Bear, and Stanford’s Sam Roush will be an incredible TE2 next to Colston Loveland.

Zavion Thomas is the big x-factor here. The former LSU Tiger is small, but he can absolutely fly, running a 4.28-second 40-yard dash at the combine. With Ben Jones’ scheming the ball into his hands, Thomas could be a game-changing weapon if his body can hold up.

Grade: B+

Cincinnati Bengals

Best Pick: EDGE Cashius Howell, Texas A&M (Round 2, Pick 41)

Worst Pick: CB Tacario Davis, Washington (Round 3, Pick 72)

Most Interesting Pick: EDGE Cashius Howell, Texas A&M (Round 2, Pick 41)

Dexter Lawrence was the real best pick of the Bengals this year, as the veteran DT will help turn around that defense. EDGE Cashius Howell could, too, though. The Texas A&M rusher has short arms, but his skills, tenacity, and speed made him incredibly productive in college. He was great value in Round 2, and he is also the most intriguing, because an elite pass rusher on this D could make them a top unit quickly.

As for Tacario Davis, the corner is big but not that physical. He didn’t have a ton of production in college, either, but it’s understandable that the Bengals fell in love with his size. Becoming a starting CB doesn’t seem realistic, though, in the end. Still, the Bengals did fine with their picks, and Lawrence was the real coup.

Grade: C+

Cleveland Browns

Best Pick: S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo (Round 2, Pick 58)

Worst Pick: C Parker Brailsford, Alabama (Round 1, Pick 9)

Most Interesting Pick: QB Taylen Green, Arkansas (Round 6, Pick 182)

The winners of the 2026 NFL Draft are… the Cleveland Browns! They made 10 picks in this draft, and they crushed darn-near every one of them. OL Spencer Fano was a great first pick, and doubling up on WR with KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston was an incredible move that will transform the offense. They even got a potentially amazing developmental QB in Taylen Green.

Green is incredibly raw and athletic, but when you have no real starting QB, it’s totally worth taking a flier on a player with a unique profile like this. And Green is so athletic, he may be able to help out at other positions while he develops.

The big steal here, though, was Emmanuel McNeil-Warren. Dropping from the mid-first round to the late second was head-scratching. But now, the Browns have added to a strength and have a versatile, downhill safety who many experts pegged as a Week 1 starter.

If this draft doesnt start to turn the Browns around, I don’t see what will.

Grade: A+

Dallas Cowboys

Best Pick: S Caleb Downs, Ohio State (Round 1, Pick 11)

Worst Pick: EDGE LT Overton, Alabama (Round 4, Pick 137)

Most Interesting Pick: EDGE Jaishawn Barham, Michigan (Round 3, Pick 92) 

The Cowboys are one of the winners in our 2026 NFL Draft grades, which shouldn’t come as a huge surprise, as they had two picks in the top 20 to work with. But give Jerry Jones credit for not getting too cute. He gave up two fifth-round picks to ensure they got the best pound-for-pound player in this draft, Caleb Downs. Then he went with a premium pass rusher, Malachi Lawrence, later in the round.

Downs will be good right away, and Lawrence has an incredibly high ceiling, although it may take him a while to get used to the competition jump from UCF to the NFL. And even their worst pick, LT Overton, could get better if used correctly. He’s a DE/DT tweener with slow power, so if he moves inside, he could be a useful run-stopping piece.

The real Wild Card here, though, is Michigan EDGE, Jaishawn Barham. Some see him as a poor man’s Arvell Reese. He played both off-ball linebacker and edge during his four years at Maryland and Michigan. His motor is incredible, and he’ll give Christian Parker’s defense some unique looks if they can be creative with him.

After three days and seven picks, the Cowboys may be back as contenders.

Grade: A-

Denver Broncos

Best Pick: Red Murdock, Buffalo (Round 7, Pick 257)

Worst Pick: TE Dallen Bentley, Utah (Round 7, Pick 256)

Most Interesting Pick: TE Justin Joly, NC State (Round 5, Pick 152)

The Broncos had few picks to begin with, and they traded out of the first two days entirely, yet still did quite well. They got players at positions of need, and ones with high upside who could become starters down the line.

While TE Dallen Bentley is pretty pedestrian, Justin Joly could become something special. He is undersized, but is a great pass-catcher with good run-after-catch ability. If he surprises people and becomes the next Harold Fanin Jr., don;t be surprised. And speaking of surprising, Red Murdock is an absolute beast who forces turnovers at an incredible rate. He may be Mr. Irrelevant now, but he won’t be irrelevant for long.

Grade: B-

Detroit Lions

Best Pick: OT Blake Miller, Clemson (Round 1, Pick 17)

Worst Pick: DE Derrick Moore, Michigan (Round 2, Pick 44)

Most Interesting Pick: CB Keith Abney II, Arizona State (Round 5, Pick 157)

Dan Campbell got a perfect lineman for him in Round 1, taking Blake Miller to play right tackle and replace Taylor Decker. Miller is an Iron Man who never misses a game. He is tough and mean on the field, and he even had long hair in college. How Dan Campbell is that?

With their next pick, though, the Lions reached a bit for EDGE Derrick Moore, who is well-rounded but seemingly average to only slightly above average at almost everything. With higher upside players like Zion Young and Gabe Jacas still on the board, Moore felt like a bit of a reach.

Keith Abney II is the most intriguing prospect here because, at 5-foot-9, he’s smaller than you’d like in a boundary corner. But he is another Campbell-style knee-biter, and even if he slides into nickel, he should be a Week 1 starter for the Lions. He doesn’t have the taits, but you can just see him succeeding in Detroit.

Grade: B

Green Bay Packers

Best Pick: CB Brandon Cisse, South Carolina

Worst Pick: K Trey Smack, Florida (Round 6, Pick 

Most Interesting Pick: CB Domani Jackson, Alabama (Round, Pick )

The Packers did a decent job with limited picks thanks to the Micah Parsons trade. Even without a first-round pick, though, they got a borderline first-round talent in Brandon Cisse. He is slightly undersized, but he is crazy athletic, skilled, and tough. He also fills a major need for the Pack.

In any draft, the Packers love their traits guys, and Domani Jackson is that type of player. He is over 6 feet and has track speed. The corner never became a shutdown guy at USC or Alabama, but there is no way the Green Bay front office was going to let a guy with that kind of pedigree slide by.

As for Trey Smack, he’s probably a nice guy, but drafting kickers stinks, and the ones who do get drafted usually struggle out of the gate. Sorry, kid.

Grade: B-

Houston Texans

Best Pick: DT Kayden McDonald, Ohio State (Round 2, Pick 36)

Worst Pick: TE Marlin Klein, Michigan (Round 2, Pick 59)

Most Interesting Pick: S Kamari Ramsey, USC (Round 5, Pick 141)

The Texans have one of the most complete rosters in the NFL, so they didn’t have many holes to fill. A guard and a run-stuffing defensive tackle were their only two big needs, and they filled those right away with OG Keylon Rutledge and DT Keyden McDonald. The latter was the best player at his position, so getting him in Round 2 was a major steal.

They did reach a but for Marlin Klein at the end of Round 2. He is raw and needs to fill out, but at that point in the historic draft tight end run, there were TEs with both more upside and better value now. Kamari Ramsey, on the other hand, was a good value in Round 5. The former Trojan can play all three safety spots, and if he can stay healthy, he’s a future starter.

With a solid draft, the Texans are even better equipped to compete next season, although they will only go as far as C.J. Stroud takes them.

Grade: B

Indianapolis Colts

Best Pick: LB C.J. Allen, Georgia (Round 2, Pick 53)

Worst Pick: RB Seth McGowan, Kentucky (Round 7, Pick 237)

Most Interesting Pick: EDGE George Gumbs Jr., Florida (Round 5, Pick 156)

Without a first-round pick from the Sauce Gardner trade, the Colts did quite well working with what they had to work with. They got incredible value in Round 2 with both LB C.J. Allen and S A.J. Haulcy. They should both be starters in Year 1, and Allen profiles as a future team captain.

Later-round picks were intriguing, too. Georgie Gumbs is a player who converted from WR to TE to EDGE in his college career, so the athleticism is there. If he ever settles in as a true EDGE and finds his niche, this could be a late-round steal. Even the “worst” pick, Seth McGowan, is a big, powerful back worthy of a seventh-round flyer. If he solves his fumbling issue, he could be a good short-yardage partner for Jonathan Taylor.

Grade: B-

Jacksonville Jaguars

Best Pick: OG Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon (Round 3, Pick 88)

Worst Pick: WR C.J. Williams, Stanford (Round 6, Pick 203)

Most Interesting Pick: TE Nate Boerkircher, Texas A&M (Round 2, Pick 56)

After trading up for Travis Hunter last year, the Jaguars did not have a first-round pick. They still did OK in the later rounds, although most of their picks don’t stand out. That said, OG Emmanuel Pregnon may be the biggest steal of the draft. He is a plug-and-play guard with late first or early second-round talent.

TE Nate Boerkircher is the fulcrum on which this draft rests. If he becomes a volume target or a dangerous weapon for Trevor Lawrence, then this weekend will be an overall success. If the Jags’ first pick is average to a bust, though, this draft looks a lot worse. Especially when they are taking flyers on WRs like C.J. Williams, a player with 94 catches, 1,179 yards, and eight touchdowns in his entire four-year college career.

Grade: C+

Kansas City Chiefs

Best Pick: CB Mansoor Delane, LSU (Round 1, Pick 6)

Worst Pick: EDGE R Mason Thomas, Oklahoma (Round 2, Pick 40)

Most Interesting Pick: DT Peter Woods, Clemson (Round 1, Pick 29)

The Chiefs made the most of their first high Round 1 draft picks in nearly a decade. They traded up slightly to ensure they got the best and safest CB in the draft in Mansoor Delane. That gives them a perfect replacement for Trent McDuffie, who has the potential to be even better, and they won’t have to pay him real money for another four to five years.

R Mason Thomas is a solid speed rusher, but he is a pass-rush only guy, and his size may prevent him from even being that. With more productive players (Cashius Howell) and players with better length and size (Zion Young) still on the board at this point, Thomas was just a bit of a reach.

The team’s draft really hinges on Peter Woods, though. Is he the player he was in 2024? If so, the Chiefs have their next Chris Jones. If he’s the player he was in 2025, though, Woods could be a Round 1 bust.  In this year’s draft, though, Woods is probably the DT with the most potential to be a three-down Pro Bowler, so taking the chance was worth it.

As usual, KC made some shrewd late-round picks, too. RB Emmit Johnson can be a rotational power back, and WR Cyrus Ale is an intriguing slot speedster who could find his way into the Chiefs’ receiver rotation. Overall, Brett Veech and company did a pretty good job here.

Grade: B

Las Vegas Raiders

Best Pick: QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana (Round 1, Pick 1)

Worst Pick: S Dalton Johnson, Arizona (Round 5, Pick 150)

Most Interesting Pick: CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee (Round 4, Pick 101)

This is how you do a rebuild. The Raiders had a ton of picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, and they nailed most of them. Outside of  S Dalton Johnson, who’s just a little underwhelming in every category but toughness, the Raiders got great value and players with a lot of upside at almost every pick.

They got their franchise quarterback in Fernando Mendoza and then brought in several players who could potentially start right away on defense with S Treydan Stukes, EDGE Keyron Crawford, and CB Hezekiah Masses. The biggest steal, though, may be Jermod McCoy. Many mock drafts had him potentially going in the top-10 this year. Injury concerns tanked his draft stock, but if his knee does hold up, the Raiders got a player with Pro Bowl potential 90-plus picks later than he should have gone.

On offense, the only complaint is that they could have gone wide receiver earlier than Malik Benson in Round 6. But grabbing Trey Zuhn III, who can either start at or back up all five offensive line positions, was a great move. And RB Mike Washington Jr., who is 6-foot-1, 223 pounds with 4.33 speed, will make for an excellent change-of-pace back with Ashton Jeanty.

The Raiders’ draft was smart, intentional, and had the right balance of safe picks and worthwhile gambles. Yes, they had pick No. 1, which helps their 2026 NFL Draft grades, but they stayed strong throughout, which is why they got an A.

Grade: A

Los Angeles Chargers

Best Pick: EDGE Akheem Mesidor, Miami (Round 1, Pick 22)

Worst Pick: C Jake Slaughter, Florida (Round 2, Pick 63)

Most Interesting Pick: WR Brennan Thompson, Mississippi State (Round 4, Pick 105)

The Chargers got their next great pass rusher in Akheem Mesidor in a spot where not many thought he would fall to. Yes, he’s a bit older, but that means he will contribute in Year 1, and he fits the Chargers’ win-now timeline. If the team is still struggling to make noise in the playoffs five years from now when his second contract comes up, there will be bigger problems than Mesidor’s age.

Jake Slaughter, on the other hand, was a bit of a reach. He was a solid player in college and can make for a good backup center. However, the Chargers seem to think he has guard/center flexibility, which is a stretch at 303 pounds. This isn’t a terrible pick. It is just an overdraft.

What is interesting, though, is Brennan Thomason. The franchise where Danny Woodhead had his most success is now home to the 5-foot-9, 164-pound speedster from Mississippi State. His 4.26 speed is incredible, and if he stays healthy, he can be a one-of-a-kind weapon for Justin Herbert.

Grade: B

Los Angles Rams

Best Pick: WR C.J. Daniels, Miami (Round 6, Pick 197)

Worst Pick: QB Ty Simpson, Alabama (Round 1, Pick 13) 

Most Interesting Pick: QB Ty Simpson, Alabama (Round 1, Pick 13) 

Ok, we may have cheated here, but the Rams only made five picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, so there’s not a lot to work with. Whether Sean McVay wanted Ty Simpson or not, this is a risky pick given the team’s Super-Bowl-or-bust mandate. Yes, this strategy has worked out long-term for a franchise like the Packers, but it also helped limit both Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers to one Lombardi Trophy each.

If Simpson becomes Matthew Stafford’s heir someday and leads the team to multiple postseasons, then this will have been a success. And if the Rams win the Super Bowl this season anyway, then this also looks like a smart move. Anything short of that, though, and there will be a lot of questions surrounding the Rams’ drafting a middling QB prospect in the middle of Round 1.

On a positive note, the Rams snagged Miami WR C.J. Daniels in Round 6. The former hurricane isn’t a speed demon, but he is productive and reliable with good size. In those ways, he will remind many Rams fans of Puka Nacua.

Grade: C

Miami Dolphins

Best Pick: LB Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech (Round 2, Pick 43)

Worst Pick: TE Will Kacmarek, Ohio State (Round 4, Pick 87) 

Most Interesting Pick: WR Chris Bell, Louisville (Round 4, Pick 94)

The Dolphins ended up making 13 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, which was a necessity after taking a historic $182 million dead cap hit for the coming season. Still, they did well with those picks, getting a ton of value and striking a nice balance between safe selections and more risky picks with big-time upside.

On the safe side, their first-round picks, OL Kadyn Proctor and CB Chris Johnson, are a no-doubt starter at either guard or tackle and the team’s CB1, respectively, right away. The biggest win, though, was Jacob Rodriguez toward the top if Round 2. He is a Zach Thomas-like figure who doesn’t have elite measurable traits, but is just an incredible football player who knows how to take the ball away from the other team. He is the player whom Jeff Hafley can build his defense around.

Taking WR Chris Bell in Round 4 was a shrewd move, too. If the Louisville wideout wasn’t coming back from a knee injury, he may have been a first-round pick. As it is, the Dolphins will happily wait a few extra months, or even a year, until he comes back fully healthy. When he does, Bell could quickly become a WR1.

The 2026 season may be a rough one for the young and unproven Dolphins. But the foundation they laid over the last three days will pay dividends in the future.

Grade: A

Minnesota Vikings

Best Pick: DT Domonique Orange, Iowa State (Round 3, Pick 82)

Worst Pick: C Gavin Gerhart, Cincinnati (Round 7, Pick 235)

Most Interesting Pick: DT Caleb Banks, Florida (Round 1, Pick 18)

Former Florida DT Caleb Banks has been all over the place as a prospect. He has rare size and athleticism, but his injury history and lack of high-end prodcution sacred some teams away. He could have gone anywhere from the middle of the first round to late in the second, and no one would have been all that surprised.

As it is, Banks fills a need for the Vikings. If he turns out to be the disruptive force his size, strength, and speed suggest, this is a huge pick for Minnesota. If he spends most of his time on injured reserve, though, there will be a lot of “I told you so.” The Vikes did make a smart complementary move in Round 3, picking “Big Citrus,” Dominque Orange to be the big, space-eating NT either next to or in place of Banks.

The rest of the Vikings’ picks fill holes and have some upside, so they didn’t do poorly, but there is nothing to get too excited about unless Banks hits his ceiling.

Grade: C+

New England Patriots

Best Pick: EDGE Gabe Jacas, Illinois (Round 2, Pick 55)

Worst Pick: QB Behren Morton, Texas Tech (Round 7, Pick 234)

Most Interesting Pick: OT Caleb Lomu, Utah (Round 1, Pick 28)

The Patriots did a really nice job in the 2026 NFL Draft, whether their coach was in the War Room or in “counseling.” Speaking of Mike Vrabel, their best pick was a player who has to remind fans and coaches alike of the man himself. Gabe Jacas is a big, physical, edge player who can do a little bit of everything. If his coach has him catch passes in goal line formation, too, then Jacas really is Vrabel 2.0.

In Round 1, the Pats did something fascinating, selecting LEFT tackle Caleb Lomu from Utah. There is no doubt that Lomu is an LT. He forced Spencer Fano out of that position with the Utes. So, what does that mean for Will Campbell? Will they try to move him to RT? To guard? Or will they keep up the charade that short-armed Campbell can still become an elite LT?

As for worst picks, a QB in Round 7? And a mediocre, oft-injured one at that? What are we doing here with the head coach out of the room?

Grade: B+

New Orleans Saints

Best Pick: WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State (Round 1, Pick 8)

Worst Pick: CB T.J. Hall, Iowa (Round 7, Pick 219)

Most Interesting Pick: WR Bryce Lance, North Dakota State (Round 4, Pick 136)

The Saints made some nice picks and got some really good value from picks like DT Christen Miller and TE Oscar Delp, both from Georgia. However, the real stars of the show are the wide receivers who will possibly make or break Tyler Shough.

Jordyn Tyson was one of the most coveted WRs in the 2026 NFL Draft. He has the size and skills to be a true WR1 at the next level. If he stays healthy, this is a home run. Bryce Lance is more developmental, but the small-school prospect has many of the traits Tyson does. If these pass-catchers both hit, the Saints offense could be back to the Drew Brees days.

Grade: B+

New York Giants

Best Pick: EDGE/LB Arvell Reese, Ohio State (Round 1, Pick 5) 

Worst Pick: LB Jack Kelly, BYU (Round 6, Pick 193)

Most Interesting Pick: WR Malachi Fields, Notre Dame (Round 4, Pick 74)

The Giants had a very Ravens-esque draft, which shouldn’t be a surprise under John Harbaugh. Early in the draft, they sat at their spots and ended up with arguably the best defensive prospect (Arvell Reese) and offensive lineman (Francis Mauigoa) in the entire 2026 NFL Draft class.

After that, they went about filling positions of need with solid developmental prospects. Even their “worst” pick, Jack Kelly, has some upside as a core special teamer.

Wideout Malachi Fields is the player that coudl tunr this draft into an A+, though. He is a beast, a 6-foot-4, and if he becomes a legit possession and red zone threat WR2, then that is a home run. We’ve seen plenty of players with this profile fail to be able to separate in the pros, but if Fields can, this draft will propel the G-Men back to the postseason.

Grade: A

New York Jets

Best Pick: WR Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana (Round 1, Pick 30)

Worst Pick: QB Cade Klubnik, Clemson (Round 4, Pick 110)

Most Interesting Pick: CB D’Angelo Ponds, Indiana (Round 2, Pick 50)

Picking EDGE David Bailey over Arvell Reese was a risk, but even if it doesn’t totally pay off, what the Jets did in the rest of the first round and beyond makes them one of the winners of this draft. For a team that needs high-end talent more than depth, they did the smart thing and ended up with three first-round picks. Bailey, TE Kenyon Sadiq, and WR Omar Cooper Jr. are all incredible prospects who could give the Jets a fantastic foundation when they finally get a QB.

D’Angelo Ponds and Darrell Jackson Jr. were also high upside picks in later rounds, with Ponds being particularly interesting. The DB is small, but he plays a lot like his head coach, Aaron Glenn, which is enticing. Cade Klubnik does not seem like an NFL starting quarterback, but in Round 4, it’s an OK draft throw.

Grade: A

Philadelphia Eagles

Best Pick: TE Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt (Round 2, Pick 54)

Worst Pick: WR Makai Lemon, USC (Round 1, Pick 20)

Most Interesting Pick: OT Markell Bell, Miami (Round 3, Pick 68)

Howie Roseman is a mastermind, but this year, he may have outsmarted himself, trading up to steal Makai Lemon from the Steelers. Lemon is a good receiver, but not elite at anything. He also has a unique personality that may cause problems in an already fractured Eagles locker room. But while I didn’t love that pick, the rest of the draft was pretty on-point for Howie.

Markell Bell is 6-foot-9, 346 pounds, and with the right tutelage, he could become the next great Eagles lineman. Plus, with a year to sit and learn, that development becomes more likely. As for Eli Stowers, he is like a tight end version of A.J. Brown, so he can do a lot of what the star WR does, but closer to the line of scrimmage, which Jalen Hurts will appreciate. Shoutout to seventh0round pic, Texas Tech S Cole Wisniewski, too, as that is another classic Roseman selection who will likely do well in this league.

Grade: B

Pittsburgh Steelers

Best Pick: OT Max Iheanachor, Arizona State (Round 1, Pick 21)

Worst Pick: Gabriel Rubio, Notre Dame (Round 6, Pick 210)

Most Interesting Pick: RB Eli Heidenreich, Navy (Round 7, Pick 230)

The Steelers did their best after getting Makai Lemon sniped from them while on the phone with him. In Max Iheanachor, they get a raw but incredibly gifted tackle who they can mold like a lump of clay. With the Navy’s Eli Heidenreich, the Steelers picked one of the most interesting prospects in this draft. He is an RB/FB/TE hybrid that the right OC or head coach (Mike McCarthy?) could use to great effect.

The biggest reason the Steelers get a B+ here, though, is that they made solid, useful picks throughout the whole 2026 NFL Draft. WR Germie Bernard, QB Drew Allar, WR Kayden Wetjen, and S Robert Spears-Jenning all fit into this category.

Grade: B+

San Francisco 49ers

Best Pick: WR De’Zhaun Stribling, Ole Miss (Round 2, Pick 33)

Worst Pick: RB Kaelon Black, Indiana (Round 3, Pick 90)

Most Interesting Pick: CB Ephesians Prysock, Washington

The 49ers are one of the teams that traded back and right out of the first round. Could they have taken a developmental tackle or a defensive lineman who could have helped them as starters this season in the late 20s? Maybe. But they settled for a group of rotational specialists who will absolutely get on the field in some manner this year.

After missing out on Omar Cooper Jr. and KC Concepcion, the 49ers moved back to Round 2 and grabbed one of the last WRs in that tier with De’Zhaun Stribling. The Ole Miss pass-catcher has size and speed, and can be a functional deep threat for the Niners right away. If he develops his route tree more and learns how to separate underneath, he can become a starting wideout.

San Francisco also got good value on undersized defensive linemen in the middle rounds. EDGE Romello Height and  DT Gracen Halton are pass-rush specialists with some question marks, but getting them in the third and fourth rounds, respectively, when they were projected a round higher is good value.

RB Kaelon Black was a bit of a reach with names like Jonah Coleman and Mike Washington Jr. still available, but who are we to argue with a Shanahan picking a mid-round RB? As for CB Ephesians Prysock, he is a popular late-round sleeper among draft gurus. He is 6-foot-3 3/8, 198 pounds, and has the frame and athleticism to potentially develop into a lockdown CB on big wideouts.

While the 49ers’ draft was light on star power, it should be strong on contributors.

Grade: B-

Seattle Seahawks

Best Pick: CB Julian Neal, Arkansas (Round 3, Pick 99)

Worst Pick: DT Deven Eastern, Minnesota (Round 7, Pick 242)

Most Interesting Pick: RB Jadarian Price, Notre Dame (Round 1, Pick 32)

The Seahawks turned four picks into eight selections, which is a magic trick in and of itself. With those picks, they addressed a lot of needs and selected Seahawks-type players. Since those styles of players just won a Super Bowl, it’s hard to argue with the process.

Seattle has always been good at drafting running backs, and even though they reached a bit for Jadarian Price, it’s easy to see him becoming the next Seahawks running back in line to be a good player.

We pegged CB Julain Neal as the best pick, but in reality, all the DBs the Seahawks took are their best picks. Seattle knows exactly what it wants with big, physical DBs and playmakers at the back. Neal, S Bud Clark, DB Andre Fuller, and CB Michael Dansby all fit that mold, which is a win for Mike Macdonald.

Grade: B+

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Best Pick: EDGE Rueben Bain Jr., Miami (Round 1, Pick 15) 

Worst Pick: TE Bauer Sharp, LSU (Round 6, Pick 185)

Most Interesting Pick: WR Ted Hurst, Georgia State (Round 3, Pick 84)

The Buccaneers have to be smiling from ear to ear after this draft haul. First, they have Rueben Bain Jr., the most productive prospect in this draft, fall to them at 15, and they just kept getting value from there. LB Josiah Trotter is a perfect Lavonte David replacement, and S/CB Keionte Scott is one of the most versatile, productive DBs in this class.

Ted Hurst is really interesting here. He comes from Georgia State, so there will be some talent shock in the NFL, but he has all the tools to become a productive (there’s that word again, drink!) pass-catcher in the pros. The Bucas also added two good O-linemen to round out this draft.

Grade: A-

Tennessee Titans

Best Pick: WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State (Round 1, Pick 4) 

Worst Pick: TE Jaren Kanak, Oklahoma (Round 7, Pick 225)

Most Interesting Pick: EDGE Keldric Faulk, Auburn (Round 1, Pick 31)

Robert Saleh and Brian Daboll know they need to help Cam Ward, so drafting Carnell Tate made a lot of sense. And you almost never go wrong drafting a first-round Ohio State wide receiver. After that, trading back into Round 1 for the raw but gifted Keldric Faulk was a stroke of genius. The Titans can wait on him to develop, and between his character and Saleh’s coaching, chances are he will come good.

There honestly weren’t many mistakes here for the Titans. They got value and good players along the way, and mid-round talents like LB Anhtonhy Hill Jr. and C Pat Coogan have a chance to be solid (or better) starters sooner rather than later.

Grade: A

Washington Commanders

Best Pick: LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State (Round 1, Pick 7)

Worst Pick: WR Antonio Williams, Clemson (Round 3, Pick 71)

Most Interesting Pick: RB Kaytron Allen, Penn State (Round 6, Pick 187)

Sonny Styles was a home run for a Commanders team that desperately needed to get younger and more athletic on defense. You don’t get much younger and more athletic than Stylers. They did need a WR2 as well, but Antonio Williams is a pretty polarizing prospect. They could have done better there.

The key to the Commanders’ late-round picks is Kaytron Allen. The former Penn State back burst on the scene and took hold of the starting job in Happy Valley despite tough competition. If he can do the same in Washington, that would be huge for Jayden Dabniels and the offense.

Grade: B-

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