NFL Draft Grades: Instant Analysis of Every Team's 2026 Class

I know these don't matter.

Truly, I'm aware.

But this is sports, and sports is about having fun, so we're gonna have some fun.

The 2026 NFL Draft is officially in the rear-view mirror, and it's time to hand out some immediate grades, breaking down every player who was picked across the league over the last three days in Pittsburgh.

This exercise is always highly subjective, with perceived team needs and player values playing a large part in the criteria for handing out these instant assessments.

So, here's how I feel about every team's class coming out of this year's NFL Draft, including their biggest steals and reaches based on where prospects ranked on my top-300 big board:

Arizona Cardinals

Biggest Steal: DL Kaleb Proctor (No. 104 overall)

Biggest Reach: QB Carson Beck (No. 65 overall)

You can argue about "positional value" with RB Jeremiyah Love at the No. 3 overall pick, but I'm always a fan of simply drafting the best players, and there's a strong case to be made that Love is the best player in this entire draft. OL Chase Bisontis is a tone-setting in the trenches who should make an immediate impact at guard, and he's got tons of upside.

QB Carson Beck was a questionable pick at the top of the third round, considering how many other needs Arizona had elsewhere, and when considering the potential strength of next year's quarterback class. DL Kaleb Proctor is one of my favorite small-school prospects in this class, and has the ability to be a disruptive interior pass rusher.

There's some intriguing upside here, and Love should be a superstar sooner than later. Beck feels like a career backup, which makes him a puzzling choice with a top-65 pick, given everything else this roster needed.

GRADE: C+

Atlanta Falcons

Biggest Steal: LB Harold Perkins (No. 215 overall)

Biggest Reach: LB Kendal Daniels (No. 134 overall)

The Falcons didn't pick until the second round thanks to last year's draft-day trade with the Los Angeles Rams that netted them an extra first-rounder (DE James Pearce Jr.), but they still landed a borderline first-round talent in CB Avieon Terrell. They snatched WR Zachariah Branch a round later than he should've gone, giving them an explosive playmaker who can create big plays on offense.

Fourth-rounder Kendal Daniels is an intriguing LB/S hybrid who should be a fun situational weapon for the defense, but he was a late-round prospect on my board. Atlanta's Day 3 haul was highlighted by LB Harold Perkins, a high-upside project who could never find the right positional fit in college, but represented welcome value as a sixth-round pick.

It's always a challenge to put together a sterling draft class without a first-round pick, but the Falcons did a solid job of matching need with value in the early rounds, and getting a strong balance of immediate impact and long-term upside.

GRADE: B

Baltimore Ravens

Biggest Steal: CB Chandler Rivers (No. 162 overall)

Biggest Reach: TE Matthew Hibner (No. 133 overall)

The most Ravens pick possible was OL Olaivavega Ioane, the best guard prospect in this class and a top-10 talent on my board (No. 8 overall). DE Zion Young is a stout edge defender who was a strong value pick in the second round, bringing toughness and physicality to the defensive front. Baltimore's passing game needed more size at wide receiver, and they double-dipped with strong fits in Ja'Kobi Lane and Elijah Sarratt, both pro-ready prospects who should have an immediate impact. TE Matthew Hibner has some pass-catching upside, but there were a ton of tight ends still on the board who were ranked higher on my board.

CB Chandler Rivers was a huge bargain in the fifth round who could make an instant impact as a slot/nickel defender, and Day 3 brough more value/upside picks in RB Adam Randall (another huge, athletic weapon to learn behind Derrick Henry) and DL Rayshaun Benny.

This class should make Lamar Jackson extremely happy, both in terms of the trench help and the new weapons. They filled their biggest need on defense out on the edge with solid value, and most of their early picks should make big contributions early for a playoff contender.

GRADE: A

Buffalo Bills

Biggest Steal: DB Jalon Kilgore (No. 167 overall)

Biggest Reach: None

After trading back three times and eventually out of the first round entirely, the Bills got strong value with a three-down edge defender in T.J. Parker. CB Davison Igbinosun came off the board a round earlier than I would've taken him, but his physical tools are intriguing. OT Jude Bowry was a solid value pick who brings toughness and power to the run game in the trenches, and WR Skyler Bell was a bargain as a well-rounded and polished pass-catcher who could make an instant impact for Josh Allen and the passing game.

LB Kaleb Elarms-Orr is an impressive athlete with starter upside this defense needed to find at some point in this draft. DB Jalon Kilgore barely fell outside my top 100 players in this draft, making him a bargain as a versatile defensive weapon who can line up at multiple spots. DL Zane Durant is an undersized but athletic interior rusher who can create serious problems for opposing offensive lines, and OL Ar'maj Reed-Adams was a solid value pick in the seventh round.

Buffalo delivered an ideal blend of value across the board with this haul, and hit on most of their pressing needs. Not coming away with a true nose tackle is disappointing, but otherwise, this group should make Bills fans happy heading into the rest of the offseason.

GRADE: B

Carolina Panthers

Biggest Steal: S Zakee Wheatley (No. 151 overall)

Biggest Reach: None

The Panthers haven't had a stable starter at left tackle since Jordan Gross, and OT Monroe Freeling should fix that quickly if he can be more consistent. DL Lee Hunter is a run-stuffing menace who was a strong value pick halfway through the second round. WR Chris Brazzell II has some boom-or-bust to him, but his combination of size and speed was too much to pass up late on Day 2.

CB Will Lee III brings size and length to the secondary, while S Zakee Wheatley should have been an easy Day 2 pick with his playmaking ability. OL Sam Hecht is a pro-ready blocker who could start early in his career at either guard or center.

This group hit on big needs across the board, and the Panthers never reached, letting the rest of the league continue to funnel talent and value to them at every spot. That's exactly how you nail a draft class.

GRADE: A

Chicago Bears

Biggest Steal: LB Keyshaun Elliott (No. 166 overall)

Biggest Reach: WR Zavion Thomas (No. 89 overall)

The Bears matched need with value in the first round with DB Dillon Thieneman, a versatile and athletic defender who can make splash plays at all levels of the field. OL Logan Jones is brings toughness and athleticism to the center position, and he could quickly take that starting job following Drew Dalman's surprising retirement. TE Sam Roush is a throwback tight end who brings size, toughness, physicality and blocking prowess that will complement Colston Loveland's skill set perfectly.

WR Zavion Thomas brings impressive speed to the table, but he was a late-round prospect on my board, and went ahead of many receivers I would've taken instead. CB Malik Muhammad and LB Keyshaun Elliott were both Day 3 value picks who could quickly carve out significant roles on a defense that needs more stability and playmaking across the board. DL Jordan van den Berg is an intriguing late-round investment with impressive athleticism for his size.

This group is hit and miss in terms of hitting needs and value, and the absence of early-round investments in the defensive front is glaring. That could come back to haunt the Bears this season, even if they get valuable contributions from the guys they did take.

GRADE: C+

Cincinnati Bengals

Biggest Steal: TE Jack Endries (No. 221 overall)

Biggest Reach: WR Colbie Young (No. 140 overall)

When you get to start your draft by spending a first-round pick on the best nose tackle in the NFL, you're already ahead of the game. Adding DL Dexter Lawrence as an instant-impact presence was a splash move for a team that rarely makes them for outside veterans. The Bengals kicked off this rookie class by landing a first-round talent in edge rusher Cashius Howell, followed by some size and length for the secondary in CB Tacario Davis. OL Connor Lew is coming off a torn ACL, but he's a three-year starter at center in the SEC, and he's still just 20 years old, giving him limitless potential.

WR Colbie Young is an intriguing upside play due to his size and athleticism, but he came off the board a round earlier than I had him graded, with tons of higher-ranked receivers still available. OL Brian Parker II gives them versatile depth along the offensive line, with the ability to plug into multiple spots, and TE Jack Endries is a versatile, complete TE who went almost 100 spots later than I ranked him. DL Landon Robinson is undersized but explosive, and one of the most underrated interior pass rushers in the draft.

Lawrence is the centerpiece of his class even though he's not technically a draft pick, and Howell should make an immediate splash for the pass rush. What this class lacks in quantity, it makes up for with value, depth and upside.

GRADE: B+

Cleveland Browns

Biggest Steal: S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (No. 58 overall)

Biggest Reach: OT Austin Barber (No. 86 overall)

Moving down in the top 10 and still landing their preferred lineman in OT Spencer Fano was a win, but that was nothing compared to the next three picks. WR KC Concepcion gives their passing game a big-play threat both down the field and after the catch, and second-round S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren was a top-15 overall prospect on my board. WR Denzel Boston was another first-round talent stolen in the second round, with the size and skill set that complements Concepcion's game and play style perfectly.

OT Austin Barber fills their need at the other tackle spot, but he went a round earlier than I had him graded. OL Parker Brailsford is undersized but athletic, with starter upside at center that was well worth a fifth-round pick. Joe Royer might be the most underrated tight end in this year's class, and Taylen Green has more upside than any other quarterback in the entire draft.

There's no other way to say is; the Browns absolutely crushed this class. They attacked their biggest needs and landed strong value for the most part across the board, and landed a ton of instant-impact players at key positions, while also building depth and upside that could pay massive dividends down the road.

GRADE: A

Dallas Cowboys

Biggest Steal: S Caleb Downs (No. 11 overall)

Biggest Reach: None

When you land the best player in the entire draft outside of the top 10, it might not matter what else you do in the rest of the draft. S Caleb Downs was the top player on my board since last summer, and will have immediate All-Pro potential. DE Malachi Lawrence was the No. 3 edge defender on my board (behind only Rueben Bain Jr. and David Bailey), and brings a ton of pass-rushing juice as a worthy first-round pick.

Jaishawn Barham is one of my favorite sleepers in this class as an DE/LB hybrid with tons of versatility and potential, and they got him a round later than I had him ranked. OT Drew Shelton gives Dallas valuable depth along the offensive line, while CB Devin Moore and DE LT Overton do the same for the defense as solid value picks in the fourth round.

I take no joy in praising Jerry Jones, but this is a fantastic class put together by the Cowboys. They filled most of their biggest needs, landed incredible value at just about every spot, and should get massive improvements to a defense that desperately needed them.

GRADE: A

Denver Broncos

Biggest Steal: RB Jonah Coleman (No. 108 overall)

Biggest Reach: DL Tyler Onyedim (No. 66 overall)

Trading for WR Jaylen Waddle left the Broncos thin on draft capital, but what he brings to the offense as a big-play weapon should be included in the value of this class. After trading back, the Broncos finally made their first pick at the top of the third round with DL Tyler Onyedim, who brings up disruptive upside to the table, but about 75 spots higher than I had him ranked.

Denver made up for it in the value department on Day 3 with RB Jonah Coleman and TE Justin Joly, both of whom are fantastic fits for what Sean Payton's offense needs. OT Kage Casey gives them a project to develop who could perhaps serve as Garett Bolles' eventual successor at left tackle, but he was picked a round earlier than I had him graded.

When you factor in what Waddle adds in firepower and help for QB Bo Nix, this is a solid class for the Broncos. They filled their most pressing needs with strong fits, and made up for their lack of early-round quality with some strong value picks.

GRADE: B

Detroit Lions

Biggest Steal: CB Keith Abney II (No. 157 overall)

Biggest Reach: LB Jimmy Rolder (No. 118 overall)

Contending teams like the Lions usually have few glaring needs, and they need polished players who can make an immediate impact at those spots. That's exactly what they're getting in OT Blake Miller, who started 54 games on the right side at Clemson, and should be a plug-and-play starter there as All-Pro OT Penei Sewell likely moves to the left side. DE Derrick Moore is a perfect fit to fill their desperate need for a three-down edge defender opposite DE Aidan Hutchinson, and he was the perfect match of need and value halfway through the second round.

LB Jimmy Rolder was taken about 100 spots ahead of where I ranked him, but he's got developmental potential and instant special-teams impact. CB Keith Abney II was the No. 65 overall player on my board, making him one of the biggest steals in the entire draft. Kentucky WR Kendrick Law is one of the more underrated pass-catchers in this class, and brings toughness and after-the-catch ability that gives him tons of upside. DL Skyler Gill-Howard is an undersized interior defense, but he adds valuable depth while being another value pick on Day 3.

The Lions nailed the nexus of need and value on most of their picks, and their highest picks are perfect fits for what they need, and should make a big impact right away on both sides of the ball. Not much missing from what the Lions needed to address coming into this draft.

GRADE: B

Green Bay Packers

Biggest Steal: DE Dani Dennis-Sutton (No. 120 overall)

Biggest Reach: None

Another team that doesn't have a first-round pick because they traded it for a proven superstar, the Packers are just fine counting OLB Micah Parsons as the gem of this draft class. CB Brandon Cisse could have easily been a first-round pick, making him a fantastic value pick that fills a huge need for Green Bay's defense. DL Chris McClellan is a massive presence in the defensive trenches who brings a rare blend of size and athleticism, as well as the ability to both stuff the run and rush the passer.

DE Dani Dennis-Sutton's physical traits and versatility are off the charts, and he could prove to be one of the biggest bargain picks in the entire draft. OL Jager Burton and CB Domani Jackson were solid Day 3 investments in depth on both sides of the ball, and I'm fine with a late-round kicker like Trey Smack when you've nailed your other needs.

Parsons was well worth missing a first-rounder this year, and the Packers got strong value across the board while filling their most pressind needs with guys who should be able to make an impact right away. There's depth and upside as well, making this an easy win for Green Bay.

GRADE: B

Houston Texans

Biggest Steal: DB Kamari Ramsey (No. 141 overall)

Biggest Reach: TE Marlin Klein (No. 59 overall)

Trading up in the first round for OL Keylan Rutledge was a bit of a reach based on my board, but his physical style of play will help address Houston's biggest need along the interior of the offensive line. Giving such a dominant defense even more help seems unfair, but DL Kayden McDonald is a dominant run-stuffer who will make DeMeco Ryans' unit even scarier. TE Marlin Klein felt like a massive reach in the second round, especially with some of the other players at his position who were still on the board.

OL Febechi Nwaiwu and LB Wade Woodaz were both fringe draftable prospects for me, but Houston reached for both in the fourth round. They made up for it in the fifth round with DB Kamari Ramsey, stealing the No. 67 overall player on my board about 75 spots later, giving Ryans a versatile back-end defender who can line up at multiple spots. WR Lewis Bond was worth a late-round pick to bolster the depth at the bottom of Houston's pass-catching depth chart.

This class featured some fantastic fits and strong value picks, but they're balanced out by multiple reaches that felt unnecessary. Those top two picks should make an instant impact for a playoff contender, but this looks like a mostly top-heavy class that will need their gambles to pay off if they want to hit on the depth pieces.

GRADE: C

Indianapolis Colts

Biggest Steal: WR Deion Burks (No. 254 overall)

Biggest Reach: DE George Gumbs Jr. (No. 156 overall)

Yet another team that doesn't have a first-round pick thanks to a previous trade, the Colts basically drafted CB Sauce Gardner with this year's (and next year's) top pick. Both of their Day 2 picks featured fantastic value at huge positions need on defense, as LB CJ Allen and S A.J. Haulcy should both have a chance to make a big impact right away. OL Jalen Farmer was a bargain early on Day 3, and should push for a starting job along the interior of the offensive line sooner than later.

On Day 3, LB Bryce Boettcher and DE George Gumbs Jr. were taken earlier than I had them ranked, but the Colts got back to making value picks with DE Caden Curry in the sixth round. They added some size and depth in the offensive backfield with RB Seth McGowan in the seventh round, and the cherry on top was WR Deion Burks, a top-100 player on my board who fell to them at No. 254 overall.

The later rounds were up and down in terms of value, but the trio at the top of the class holds up the overall quality of this class. Throw in the fact that Gardner is technically part of what they've acquired with this year's picks, and you've got a solid group that should make a particularly sizable impact on defense.

GRADE: B+

Jacksonville Jaguars

Biggest Steal: OL Emmanuel Pregnon (No. 88 overall)

Biggest Reach: TE Nate Boerkircher (No. 56 overall)

The Jags made a bold move up the board last year for CB/WR Travis Hunter, but it left them without a first-round pick this year, and the early returns for Hunter leave the value in question. When they finally made their first pick this year, they spent a second-rounder on TE Nate Boerkircher, who I had with a fifth-round grade. They reached again for DL Albert Regis in the third round, but recovered a bit with OL Emmanuel Pregnon later on Day 2. Pregnon was the No. 51 overall player on my board, and should push for a starting job at guard right away.

DB Jalen Huskey was a sixth-round grade on my board, but the Jags snuck him into the third round at No. 100 overall. DL Wesley Williams had a seventh-round grade from me, but the Jags took him in the fourth round. TE Tanner Koziol was a solid value pick in the fifth round as a potential red-zone weapon, and sixth-round WR Josh Cameron was a bargain with an intriguing skill set.

One of the more puzzling classes across the entire league, the Jags grabbed a few value picks and checked some of their need boxes, but they failed to deliver on the quality that's necessary when you don't have a first-rounder to play with.

GRADE: D

Kansas City Chiefs

Biggest Steal: RB Emmett Johnson (No. 161 overall)

Biggest Reach: None

After trading away Trent McDuffie, the Chiefs made the wise move to trade up three spots in the top 10 to land the best cornerback prospect in this year's class in Mansoor Delane. Later in the first round, they landed a high-upside interior defender in DL Peter Woods, who will get the chance to learn behind DL Chris Jones in hopes of unlocking his lofty potential. R Mason Thomas is an undersized but explosive and tenacious edge rusher who made perfect sense in the second round.

In the fourth round, DB Jadon Canady brings versatility and playmaking ability to the secondary, while RB Emmett Johnson was a bargain pick who gives the Chiefs strong depth in the offensive backfield. WR Cyrus Allen gives QB Patrick Mahomes another field-stretcher who makes up for his small stature with speed and quickness, and it's never a bad thing to take a seventh-round gamble on a quarterback with experience and production against top competition like Garrett Nussmeier.

The Chiefs nailed their biggest needs here, reloading the defense with top-end talent up front and on the back end, balancing immediate impact with upside and depth. Not getting a right tackle was a curious decision that could come back to bite them, but overall, this is a strong class that hit most of the right notes.

GRADE: B

Las Vegas Raiders

Biggest Steal: CB Jermod McCoy (No. 101 overall)

Biggest Reach: OL Trey Zuhn III (No. 91 overall)

QB Fernando Mendoza was the easy pick at No. 1 overall, giving the Raiders the franchise quarterback of the future they desperately need. DB Treydan Stukes come off the board a round earlier than I had him graded, but he brings versatility and big-play potential to the secondary. Third-round DE Keyron Crawford has a ton of upside as an edge rusher, but OL Trey Zuhn III was taken a round too early.

Teams were obviously scared of his knee injury, but CB Jermod McCoy was the No. 9 overall player on my board, making him the potential steal of the draft as the first pick in the fourth round. RB Mike Washington Jr. was a vintage Raiders pick, with a rare blend of size and speed that would make Al Davis proud. The same could be said of sixth-round WR Malik Benson, while CB Hezekiah Masses was another strong value pick in the fifth round.

Half of this class is fantastic, and there's some potential to be found ina few other picks. But the Raiders didn't do enough to surround Mendoza with young talent on his side of the ball, reaching for the only offensive linemean in the class, and waiting too long to grab a receiver.

GRADE: B

Los Angeles Chargers

Biggest Steal: S Genesis Smith (No. 131 overall)

Biggest Reach: None

There's no arguing with DE Akheem Mesidor's film or production from last year, but he's an older prospect (25 years old) with a lengty history of injuries, which makes him risky as a first-round pick. OL Jake Slaughter came off the board a bit earlier than I expected, but he's got interior versatility that will be valuable given what the hargers need most.

After mossing out on the third round entirely, the Chargers hit on a trio of fourth-rounders, adding electrifying speed in WR Brenen Thompson, a massive blocker in OT Travis Burke, and a huge bargain for the secondary in S Genesis Smith. DL Nick Barrett was a solid value pick to bolster the depth along the interior of the defensive front, while OLs Logan Taylor and Alex Harkey do the same on the other side of the ball.

The biggest needs were addressed here, and there's some mid-round value for Chargers fans to get excited about. That said, the risk associated with their top pick keeps the overall grade from being higher.

GRADE: C+

Los Angeles Rams

Biggest Steal: DL Tim Keenan III (No. 232 overall)

Biggest Reach: QB Ty Simpson (No. 13 overall)

Easily the biggest surprise of the first round, the Rams spent their top-15 pick on QB Ty Simpson, who didn't crack the top 50 prospects on my board. They reached again in the second round for TE Max Klare, passing up multiple tight ends who were much higher in my rankings. I had a sixth-round grade on OT Keagan Trost (No. 242 overall), but the Rams spent a top-100 pick on him in the third round.

Day 3 was a massive improvement in terms of getting value, landing WR CJ Daniels in the xith round, who we recently featured in our video about which receiver from this class could potentially be the next Puka Nacua. The Rams' best pick of the weekend was their last one, as they snatched up a massive run-stuffer for the defensive front in DL Tim Keenan III, a fourth-round player on my board who was grabbed in the seventh round.

The Rams are a Super Bowl contender, but they spent their first-round pick on a player they hope doesn't see the field anytime soon. Simpson could eventually develop into a successful starter in Sean McVay's system, but he lacks the high-end traits Matthew Stafford has, limiting his upside as his successor. They missed an opportunity to add an instant-impact player to a win-now roster, and followed that up by reaching with their next two picks. Easily the most questionable draft class in the entire league this year.

GRADE: D

Miami Dolphins

Biggest Steal: LB Kyle Louis (No. 138 overall)

Biggest Reach: TE Will Kacmarek (No. 87 overall)

It's hard to argue with the rare talent and potential OT Kadyn Proctor brings to the table, but passing up the likes of Caleb Downs and Rueben Bain Jr. after both fell out of the top 10 was a head-scratching decision. That wasn't the case for Miami's next two picks, as they check the boxes for both need and value with CB Chris Johnson at the end of the first round, and LB Jacob Rodriguez in the second round.

Third-round WR Caleb Douglas has intriguing upside with his combination of size and speed, but TE Will Kacmarek was a sizable reach later in the round. And the end of Day 2, Miami took a worthy gamble on WR Chris Bell, who could have been a potential first-round pick if not for a knee injury suffered last season. The rest of Day 3 featured both quantity and quality, highlighted by bargain picks like LB Kyle Louis in the fourth round, and WR Kevin Coleman Jr. in the fifth round.

It should be easy to win the draft when you make 13 picks, and for the most part, that's what Miami did. They'll have a ton of open roster spots as they go through the early stages of this rebuild, and they're getting so much value and upside out of this class, despite a couple of reaches. This group should make a big impact right away on both sides of the ball, even if the guys they didn't take with their top pick come back to haunt them.

GRADE: B

Minnesota Vikings

Biggest Steal: RB Demond Claiborne (No. 198 overall)

Biggest Reach: DL Caleb Banks (No. 18 overall)

One of the most risky first-round picks across the league, DL Caleb Banks has sky-high potential with his combination of size and athleticism, but the injury concerns weigh heavily for a top-20 pick. Second-round LB Jake Golday brings versatility and potential as a converted edge defender who can line up off the ball and attack in various ways, and DL Domonique Orange was a third-round steal as an interior run-stuffer whose skill set pairs well with Banks. OT Caleb Tiernan brings a high floor, valuable experience, and the versatility to plug in at multiple spots along the offensive line.

S Jakobe Thomas was one of my favorite defensive sleepers in this draft, so I loved seeing the Vikings sneak him into the latter part of the third round. Mas Bredeson is a throwback FB/TE hybrid who can help replace what Minnesota is losing after the retirement of longtime veteran CJ Ham. CB Charles Demmings was a bargain in the fifth-round with tons of upside, as was RB Demond Claiborne in the sixth round as a big-play weapon on offense. Seventh-round OL Gavin Gerhardt adds more depth for the trenches.

There's a lot to like about this haul for the Vikings, with needs and value matched well across the board for the most part. The biggest thing holding this grade back is the massive gamble their taking on Banks as their top pick, especially with the other players they passed up at that pick who brought similar upside without the injury concerns.

GRADE: C+

New England Patriots

Biggest Steal: OT Dametrious Crownover (No. 196 overall)

Biggest Reach: CB Karon Prunty (No. 171 overall)

OT Caleb Lomu was a solid value pick at the end of the first round, and could push for the starting job right away after Will Campbell's struggles at left tackle during his rookie season. DE Gabe Jacas is exactly the kind of well-rounded, physical presence the Pats need on the edge of their defensive front, and was worth moving up a few spots in the second round. TE Eli Raridon was a bit of a reach in the third round, but he's a high-floor prospect who should get on the field early in 12 personnel sets.

It's hard to consider a fifth-round pick a reach, but CB Karon Prunty didn't make my top-300 rankings. OT Dametrious Crownover could have made sense for multiple teams at the beginning of Day 3, making him a bargain in the sixth round to bolster the Pats' offensive line depth. LB Namdi Obiazor has some playmaking upside and special-teams value, but taking QB Behren Morton in the seventh round ahead of QB Garrett Nussmeier was puzzling. RB Jam Miller was an intriguing depth add in the seventh round, as was DE Quintayvious Hutchins.

The obvious omission here is a wide receiver, but I'm betting the Pats fix that in a couple of months by trading for AJ Brown. There are some reaches in the middle rounds, but Lomu and Jacas are strong additions in the trenches on both sides of the ball, and should give this class a high chance of being viewed as a success down the road.

GRADE: B-

New Orleans Saints

Biggest Steal: WR Bryce Lance (No. 136 overall)

Biggest Reach: OL Jeremiah Wright (No. 132 overall)

The durability concerns loom large, but WR Jordyn Tyson was easily worth a top-10 pick in terms of pure talent and what he put on film. Second-round DL Christen Miller brings size, toughness and run-stopping ability to the interior of the Saints' defensive front, and third-round TE Oscar Delp has a well-rounded skill set and tons of upside as a pass-catching weapon. OL Jeremiah Wright felt like a bit of a reach in the fourth round, but he's got some tools and upside to develop.

Speaking of tools and upside, WR Bryce Lance as a sky-high ceiling with his combination of size and speed, and DB Lorenzo Styles Jr. brings elite wheels to the secondary. Same for WR Barion Browns, who does the same for the offense and the return game. CB TJ Hall was a solid value pick in the seventh round to bring depth on defense and special teams.

There's a lot for Saints fans to be excited about with this group, but they're also banking on some good luck in terms of avoiding injuries and developing traits into consistent impact. Spending three of their eight total picks on wide receivers made sense in terms of what they lack at the position, but if left the Saints unable to address a number of other glarind needs.

GRADE: B-

New York Giants

Biggest Steal: CB Colton Hood (No. 37 overall)

Biggest Reach: None

LB Arvell Reese could have easily been the No. 2 overall pick, and while there will be questions about how to best deploy him early, the talent and upside are through the roof. OL Francis Mauigoa was a vintage Harbaugh pick who can start at guard right away before eventually moving back out to right tackle, but the Giants might regret taking him over Caleb Downs (who fell to the Cowboys at the next pick).

CB Colton Hood could have easily been a top-20 pick, making him a bargain in the second round, and a huge addition at a position of need. WR Malachi Fields gives Jaxson Dart a huge target who can dominate in the red zone, and an ideal complement to a healthy Malik Nabers. Day 3 featured just a trio of sixth-round picks, but OT J.C. Davis stood out as a strong value pick with starter upside.

Reese and Mauigoa are foundational picks on both sides of the ball as the Giants enter a new era under John Harbaugh, but letting a division rival have the best player in the entire draft (Downs) when they could have picked him twice could prove to be a mistake. Hood and Fields are strong Day 2 picks who should make a big impact right away. This is a solid group that hits both need and value across the board.

GRADE: B

New York Jets

Biggest Steal: S VJ Payne (No. 228 overall)

Biggest Reach: QB Cade Klubnik (No. 110 overall)

DE David Bailey wasn't the top edge rusher on my board, but his elite explosiveness and proven production made him a sensible choice at the No. 2 overall pick. Kenyon Sadiq was easily the top tight end prospect in this class, and brings mismatch potential to the passing game, and WR Omar Cooper Jr. is the perfect WR2 to line up alongside Garrett Wilson with his complete skill set and knack for making clutch plays.

CB D'Angelo Ponds was a perfect pick for Aaron Glenn's secondary in the second round, and DL Darrell Jackson Jr. was a bargain in the fourth round with his combination of size and power along the defensive front. QB Cade Klubnik was an odd choice given the other players still on the board at the position, but it made sense for them to spend a Day 3 pick there at some point. OL Anez Cooper was a solid depth pick for the interior of the offensive line, while S VJ Payne was a seventh-round bargain with starter potential on the back end of the defense.

We're used to making fun of the Jets this time of year, but outside of the Klubnik pick, I've got nothing but good things to stay about what they did this weekend. Bailey and Ponds are instant-impact players who will help set the tone for the entire defense, while Sadiq and Cooper will help the passing game immensely. This is a fantastic haul for Gang Green.

GRADE: A

Philadelphia Eagles

Biggest Steal: WR Makai Lemon (No. 20 overall)

Biggest Reach: OT Markel Bell (No. 68 overall)

Trading up in the first round to steal WR Makai Lemon was a sneaky move that could help alleviate an eventual trade that would send away AJ Brown, and second-round TE Eli Stowers has pass-catching upside that makes him a potential successor for Dallas Goedert if he's not kept for the long-term. OT Markel Bell felt like a reach, but it's easy to see why Philly fell in love with the rare size and power he brings to the offensive trenches.

QB Cole Payton is an intriguing developmental prospect who could work his way onto the field in a Taysom Hill-type role early in his career, and was worth taking a chance on in the fifth round. OL Micah Morris brings a ton of strength and depth value for the interior of the offensive line, and S Cole Wisniewski fills the Reed Blankenship-shaped hole in the defensive backfield. DL Uar Bernard, one of the NFL's International Pathway Program players from Nigeria, might be the most intriguing prospect in the entire draft with his rare combination of size and athleticism. DE Keyshawn James-Newby gives the defense a developmental pass rusher in the late-round range.

The top of this draft was about addressing key positions before they become glaring needs, and the Eagles checked those boxes successfully. Lemon should make a huge impact right away, while the rest of this group learns the ropes and slowly works its way into making a consistent impact on Sundays (and Mondays, and Thursdays, and Saturdays, and Wednesdays, and holidays).

GRADE: B-

Pittsburgh Steelers

Biggest Steal: RB/WR Eli Heidenreich (No. 230 overall)

Biggest Reach: WR Kaden Wetjen (No. 121 overall)

Max Iheanachor has as much upside as any offensive tackle in this class, and was absolutely worthy of a first-round pick. WR Germie Bernard is the perfect fit for the Steelers' WR3 role alongside DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. as a versatile weapon who can line up all over the offense. QB Drew Allar was a reach based on my board, but I expected someone to gamble on his potential late on Day 3 like Pittsburgh did. CB Daylen Everette brings elite speed and starter upside to the secondary, and OL Gennings Dunker is a quintessential Steelers pick along the trenches.

WR Kaden Wetjen has exciting potential in the return game, but the fourth round still felt a little early. The fifth round brought tight end depth with Riley Nowakowski, and DL Gabe Rubio has intriguing upside. In the seventh round, the Steelers landed bargains on both sides of the ball with S Robert Spears-Jennings and do-it-all offensive weapon Eli Heidenreich.

Much will be made of the Steelers missing out on Makai Lemon in the first round, but Iheanachor is fantastic, and I don't think they'll be disappointed by what they're getting in Bernard. Allar is a boom-or-bust gamble, but Dunker was an ideal need/fit/value pick. This is a solid class Pittsburgh fans should be excited about.

GRADE: B

San Francisco 49ers

Biggest Steal: DL Gracen Halton (No. 107 overall)

Biggest Reach: WR De'Zhaun Stribling (No. 33 overall)

After trading out of the first round, the 49ers reached for WR De'Zhaun Strubling with the first pick of the second round. I'm a fan of Stribling in general, but I had nine other receivers ranked ahead of him who were still available. DE Romello Height adds depth to the pass rush, but his age (25 years old) and lack of ideal size could limit his potential. The 49ers seem incapable of getting out of the third round of any draft without reaching for a running back, which they did yet again with Kaelon Black.

DL Gracen Halton gives them some interior pass-rushing juice as a fourth-round bargain, and though OL Carver Willis came off the board a round earlier than I had him ranked, his versatility adds valuable depth to the offensive trenches. CB Ephesians Prysock was a strong value/fit addition in the fourth round, but LB Jaden Duggar was a fifth-rounder I didn't have in my top 300 prospects. Fifth-round OT Enrique Cruz Jr. adds more depth and upside on the offensive line.

Soe needs were filled here, but in terms of value, there were just so many missed opportunities and puzzling decisions here.

GRADE: D+

Seattle Seahawks

Biggest Steal: DB Julian Neal (No. 99 overall)

Biggest Reach: WR Emmanuel Henderson Jr. (No. 199 overall)

Not many teams could afford the luxury of a first-round running back, but the Seahawks were an exception, and Jadarian Price should make an immediate impact after Kenneth Walker III's departure. Second-round S Bud Clark gives the defense a ballhawk in center field, while DB Julian Neal brings corner/safety versatility with size, length and physicality. OL Beau Stephens was a solid value pick in the fifth round to address the depth along the interior of the offensive line.

IT's unfair to label any sixth-round pick as a reach, but WR Emmanuel Henderson Jr. didn't make the cut on my top-300 big board, and the Seahawks took him at the Tom Brady slot. A trio of seventh-round picks brought Seattle more secondary depth with CB Andre Fuller and DB Michael Dansby, and the same for the defensive trenches with DL Deven Eastern.

Without too many holes to fill, the Seahawks did a solid job finding instant-impact players where they need them, and matching their scheme fits on defense with players who will have clear-cut roles to bolster their depth. The defending champs got better, and that should scare the rest of the league.

GRADE: B

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Biggest Steal: DB Keionte Scott (No. 115 overall)

Biggest Reach: TE Bauer Sharp (No. 185 overall)

Tampa Bay got the steal of the first round when Rueben Bain Jr. fell to them at the No. 15 overall pick, handing them the best edge rusher in this year's draft. LB Josiah Trotter is a throwback thumper who is stout against the run, and fits what Todd Bowles wants in his MIKE backer in terms of intelligence, mentality, and blitzing ability. WR Ted Hurst brings size, speed and upside to an offense that just lost Mike Evans, while DB Keionte Scott is another ideal scheme fit with big-play ability who can line up at multiple spots.

Fifth-round DL DeMonte Capehart has a rare blend of size, power and athleticism that gives him a ton of potential, and a few picks later, the Bucs added valuable depth and experience to the offensive trenches with OL Billy Schrauth. Sixth-round TE Bauer Sharp is a strong blocker with intriguing upside as an athletic pass-catcher, but he fell outside of my top 300 prospects.

The Bucs hit on all of their major needs with this class, and got a fantastic blend of value, upside, and ideal scheme fits across the board on both sides of the ball. Bain feels like the kind of pick the entire league will look back on and wonder how in the world it happened, and though Hurst is joining a crowded receiver room, his upside is through the roof. A grand slam for GM Jason Licht and his krewe.

GRADE: A

Tennessee Titans

Biggest Steal: RB Nicholas Singleton (No. 165 overall)

Biggest Reach: OL Fernando Carmona (No. 142 overall)

The Titans gave us the firs true surprise of the first round with WR Carnell Tate in the top five, but he's a complete player who gives Cam Ward an immediate WR1 to growith for the future. DE Keldric Faulk has a rare size/athleticism/versatility combo that was worth taking a chance on after trading back into the end of the first round, and he's a perfect fit for Robert Saleh's defense. Speaking of perfect fits, LB Anthony Hill Jr. is exactly that at the second level, and was a solid value pick toward the end of the second round.

The fifth round was a balance of reach and steal, as OL Fernando Carmona came off the board two rounds ahead of where I graded him, while RB Nicholas Singleton was a top-five player in this class at his position, and carried a high fourth-round grade on my board. Tennessee bolstered their depth in the trenches on both sides of the ball in the sixth round with DL Jackie Marshall and OL Pat Coogan, and finished the class with TE Jaren Kanak in the seventh round.

The Titans only made three picks in the top 140, but all of them should make a big impact right away for a young team under new management. If that trio can live up to their potential, this class will go down as a win for quality over quantity, with Singleton's upside as an eventual featured back as a possible bonus.

GRADE: B

Washington Commanders

Biggest Steal: DE Joshua Josephs (No. 147 overall)

Biggest Reach: None

Coming into the draft without a second-round pick, I'm betting the Commanders wanted to trade out of the top 10 to acquire more draft capital. But when LB Sonny Styles fell into their lap at No. 7 overall, they were wise to stay put and take the No. 3 overall player on my board. WR Antonio Williams was a solid match of need and value in the third round, while DE Joshua Josephs and RB Kaytron Allen were both absolute heists in the fifth and sixth rounds, respectively.

OL Matt Gulbin was a solid depth pick in the sixth rough with valuable versatility along the offensive line, and QB Athan Kaliakmanis was an intriguing choice in the seventh round, especially with other quarterbacks like Garrett Nussmeier still on the board.

What this class lacks in quanity, it more than makes up for with quality and a strong balance of value and scheme fits. Not coming away with an impactful cornerback (or any cornerback at all) could come back to bite them in a big way this season, but their top four selections all have a chance to contribute significantly right away. Styles is a cornerstone player who will anchor this defense for years to come, and he'll carry the banner for this class.

GRADE: B

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This story was originally published April 25, 2026 at 11:48 PM.