The 2026 NFL Draft is in the books, and it's time to wrap up everyone's favorite topic: GRADES!
I know grading the draft before anyone even puts on their new team’s uniform is a little silly, but it’s still a useful exercise to assess how teams performed over draft weekend, considering everything we’ve learned throughout the process.
Plus, it's fun!
For context, I base my grades on total draft plan, team needs, opportunity cost, the value of each pick, potential impact, and any veteran moves involving draft capital.
Enjoy!
NFC 2026 NFL Draft Grades
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: A+
It’s hard to imagine a better outcome for the Buccaneers than Rueben Bain Jr. falling to them at 15 overall - and that’s because it was IMPOSSIBLE to fathom Bain being there in the first place.
Bain is the perfect crossroads of fit, need, talent, and value as an edge rusher that feels very much like a Todd Bowles player. And to get that in the same offseason where defensive legend Lavonte David retires is just icing on the cake. This pick had me out of my seat the most on draft night.
Day Two was also good to Tampa Bay. I mentioned David retiring, and they get an NFL bloodline linebacker in Josiah Trotter, who leaves something to be desired in coverage but can come downhill and plays sideline to sideline.
They also took Ted Hurst out of Georgia State, the huge and fast small school receiver that has room to develop. This, of course, just months after Mike Evans left for the 49ers.
Day 3 was headlined by Keionte Scott, the speedy, hard-hitting, nickel corner from Miami. Another "Bowles-y" type player, he’ll be another good addition to a young and growing secondary.
Carolina Panthers - A
The Carolina Panthers had a number of ways they could’ve taken this draft class. Do we continue to build up the defense that is ascending? Or do we continue to insulate quarterback Bryce Young and build a foundation for a future, young QB?
They did a little of both.
Monroe Freeling as a high, high ceiling play with the questions at tackle in Carolina was a home run I didn’t expect. Lee Hunter is a fun nose tackle who can get in the backfield and disrupt. And Chris Brazzell II is another high-ceiling swing on an uber-talented wide out with size and speed.
They also got great value on Day 3 with Sam Hecht, a potential starter at center, and Zakee Wheatley, a physical and long safety, in round five.
Dallas Cowboys: A
Dallas had an incredible draft for what they needed. A lot was made of George Pickens drama and the potential of wide receivers falling, but they stuck by what they needed: defense.
The small trade-up of two fifth-rounders to get Caleb Downs to control the middle of the defense. Then the small trade back, picking up two fourths, to get Malachi Lawrence - a big but speedy pass rusher with some moves already in his tool belt.
Then not only do they double down at edge, but TRIPLE down with Jaisahwn Barham and LT Overton in the third and fourth rounds. And with those two, they also get versatility. Barham also played linebacker in college, and Overton is a guy who can line up over guards with his size if they want him to.
During the draft, they also traded for a starting-caliber LB in Dee Winters from San Francisco. A position they desperately needed but didn’t end up getting in the draft itself.
New York Giants: A
It’s hard to walk out of this draft not loving it for the Giants. Maybe you wanted more picks from a team rebuilding on the fly. Or more flashy pieces to play offense with Jaxson Dart. But walking out of the top 40 with Arvell Reese, Francis Mauigoa, and Colton Hood is a home run. Those could all be long-term starters that I think are there through this turn for the franchise.
Moving Dexter Lawrence to acquire the 10th overall pick was a home run move. And while their defensive line will need some attention, they go plus one at edge, linebacker, safety, and corner on the depth chart after the weekend.
I love Reese going somewhere where he’ll be an off-ball linebacker first. Yes, the potential conversion to edge was fun, but that was always a projection and project. With the Giants, he won’t have to rush that move. And he even gets to play next to an experienced linebacker in Tremaine Edmunds. So he’ll get to be unleashed.
With Francis Mauigoa, I can see him playing right tackle or right guard next to Jermaine Elumenor. He’s going to help keep that pocket clean for Dart, and create run lanes for whoever is running the ball early in the season.
And Colton Hood was one of the least talked about corners in this process, but he has everything you want. Athleticism, ball skills, fluid movements, etc. He even tries to be useful as a tackler, even if he needs some work. He won’t need to start right away, but Hood can be a real number two on a good defense.
Washington Commanders: A
I loved this draft for Washington. Sonny Styles was the No. 3 player on my board, and a huge position of need for Washington, and they got him at 7. With the edge rushers they paid in free agency and the defensive backs they’ve brought in the last two years, he can command that defense and maybe finally turn it around this year.
And speaking of edge rushers - the Joshua Josephs selection was also one of my favorites of Day 3. Josephs plays with a high motor, good first step, and excellent hands with long arms. There’s a lot to like there.
And Antonio Williams in the third is also a big move. He has good hands and can turn upfield with his compact frame. But it’s ability to run routes and separate that make him really intriguing for this offense that needs a steady number two receiver.
Later on Day 3 they add a running back to their room of cheap fliers, and hit center to at least throw a dart after releasing Tyler Biadasz.
Detroit Lions: B+
Detroit hit two of their biggest needs at really key points of the draft. At 17 and 50 (with a small trade up to 44 - nice job by them), they were able to get in those position group wells before they dried up.
The Lions are in the process of remaking their offensive line. And while I prefer Monroe Freeling to Blake Miller, Detroit clearly wanted to move Penei Sewell to left tackle. Making Miller the right choice for them.
They also brought in Derrick Moore, the edge rusher from Michigan, to try to pair him up with Aidan Hutchinson. Detroit has been missing a partner for Hutchinson for years, and Moore's run defense and pocket-pushing ability could complement the star nicely.
My one issue with the draft is at safety. Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch are recovering from major injuries, and both players are questionable to start the season on time. With little on the depth chart behind them, I’m surprised they didn’t draft a safety, especially with several good ones available as late as the fourth round.
Atlanta Falcons: B+
I really like how Atlanta played the draft. First off, Aveion Terrell was my second-ranked cornerback in this class, and Atlanta hasn’t had a consistently good second corner in a long time. And for a team without a first-round pick to get a clear first-round talent on Day Two is a gift. It’s just a bonus that his older brother is one of the stars of the team.
I loved them going defense early because with the talent they needed all over the roster, it was important to diversify what side of the ball that talent was on. And the third round was always the best spot for a potential second wide receiver, and they nailed that with Zachariah Branch. I love how he complements the bigger receivers on this team.
I do have questions about this defensive front. There’s a lot of questions and a lot of moving pieces going into 2026, even after the success of 2025. But with a lot of names still on the roster to consider, I like at least taking Day 3 swings from rounds 4-6.
And with Bill Callahan reuniting with Kevin Stefanski in Atlanta, and as the offensive line gets older, it’s good to take a flier on a developmental tackle at the end of the draft.
Philadelphia Eagles: B+
The Eagles had a whirlwind draft. Howie Roseman pulls a classic move by trading for Makai Lemon as he’s falling. He pairs that with Eli Stowers in an attempt to insulate the offense once AJ Brown is likely moved. Lemon I had as a top-12 player, and I think he has a real shot to make a difference for this offense.
In the third round, they take Markel Bell, the behemoth 6’9 left tackle from Miami. He needs development, and I’d normally feel good about that in Philly. But with Jeff Stoutland now gone I’m a little trepedatious. The Eagles fell apart last year because their offensive line wasn’t healthy. So there’s a chance Bell could be counted on to play snaps in 2026. I’m just not sure they did enough with the line.
But, with their other third-round pick, I'm excited about the trade for Jonathan Greenard. They were going to miss Jaelan Phillips in a big way, but bringing in a double-digit sack edge rusher to replace him helps the sting go away a bit.
New Orleans Saints: B
They didn’t attack the draft how I expected, and I think they left some things on the table, but I like this draft for New Orleans. If healthy, Jordyn Tyson is going to be an awesome addition to this offense with his route running and overall size.
Christen Miller was an awesome pickup as New Orleans continues to get younger on defense. From the nose he shows good IQ, movement skills, and finishing moves.
But the middle picks of Oscar Delp and Jeremiah Wright leave a little something to be desired. Not bad, but not the best. I thought a mid-round offensive line pick would be at center, with Erik McCoy constantly battling through injuries and getting older.
And while Delp is an intriguing talent for the future, there were corners and even edge rushers I felt the Saints could’ve used in that spot.
So I'm not against these picks. I just would’ve gone another way. But Tyson, Miller, and even Bryce Lance late in the fourth drive the solid grade for me.
San Francisco 49ers: B-
Ultimately, I think the 49ers draft was GOOD. They created value with trade downs, got positions of need, and mostly got good players. Was De’Zhaun Stribling the BEST receiver they could’ve taken at 33? No. Was it this huge reach that they took him? No. Especially for the role he fits compared to the other receivers in that range.
Was Kaedon Black the right running back to take in the third? No. Should they have taken a running back there anyway? No. So what’s the sense in arguing about the “who”?
Did they reach in rounds 4 and 5 on guys potentially available in rounds 6 and 7? Yes. Did the Niners have a 6th or 7th round selection to use on any of those guys? No. So they got the players they wanted with their 5th, 7th, and 8th picks in the draft. Big whoop.
Did they get enough value for their starting linebacker in a trade? Probably market fair, even if it doesn’t feel like it, but they brought back Dre Greenlaw, took a linebacker in the third last year, then another in the fifth this year, so it’s probably fine.
And I adore the Gracen Halton selection in the fourth round. I thought he was a slam-dunk third-rounder, and he adds grit and explosiveness to the middle of the line.
Let’s say they didn’t do any of the moving around. If we’re going to be in a fantasy land about where to take players, let’s not have the benefit of also taking the trades they made.
So at 27, 58, 127, 133, 138, and 139 - would Peter Woods, Chris Brazzell, Kyle Louis, Joshua Josephs, Ephensians Prysock, and Demetrious Crownover have been my preferred stack for the weekend? Yes, probably. Is it for sure that that ends up being better in the long run? No, I don’t think so.
As always, the 49ers are going to draft who they draft. But the decent grade from me is for the additional swings they created, and attacking the biggest needs on their roster. Plus finding good value in the middle of the draft.
Green Bay Packers: C+
It wasn’t flashy, but the more I look at this draft for Green Bay, the more I like it. With pick 52, only one player was higher on my board than Brandon Cisse at a position of need, and that was Gabe Jacas. But the dropoff of Jacas to who they got in the fourth round in Dani Dennis-Sutton, and a potential outside man corner they could’ve gotten down there was much shorter. So I like how that stack played out.
I’m not a huge Cisse fan because I don’t think he likes contact, but late in the second round to get a corner that big, who moves and mirrors the way he does, is an excellent swing for a team that doesn’t have a typical number one corner.
I wanted the Packers to establish what kind of front they’d be going to in this draft, since they’ve had a lot of back and forth over the years. Chris McClellan and Dani Dennis-Sutton in the mid rounds do just that as true big bodies who can play in the middle and on the edge of a traditional 3-4.
And in the sixth round, they take a swing at a kicker after the issues they had in that department last year. Brandon McManus went 3-7 on field goals from 40-49 yards, went 0-2 on field goals, and 3-4 on extra points in the Wild Card round loss.
Chicago Bears: C+
Through two years of the Ben Johnson regime, I’m finding out I just might not be a fan of the way his teams are going to draft. They take three offensive players in their first four picks coming off a top-10 offense and bottom-10 defensive season.
Let’s start on Day 2 to talk about those offensive players. Logan Jones in the second round, I get. I said when they didn’t bring in Tyler Biadasz and opted for Garrett Bradbury that there was probably a center they were eyeing in the draft. And in Jones, Ben Johnson gets the light on his feet, but tough-style, center that works in Johnson's offense. So even if he was the first true center off the board until the fourth round, I understand going after him early.
I know the trend for offenses is having at least one big blocking tight end for 13 personnel, but to go for Sam Roush in the third round was a luxury pick.
Backing up to the first round, while I understand the selection of Dillon Thieneman, it's not the one I would have made. On one hand, both of Chicago's starting safeties left in free agency, and Thieneman was considered a top-20 pick they could have at 25.
But there was a much bigger need up front. Chicago was one of the worst defenses in 2025 against the run, and at getting to the quarterback. And there were several defensive linemen I would have preferred to Thieneman.
Arizona Cardinals: C-
The Arizona Cardinals drafted like they had two minutes on the clock with every pick. Jeremiyah Love should not have been the pick for them in the first round. We just saw what happened with the Raiders last year after drafting a running back early into a bad offense.
And even if the offense is a little more modern in Arizona, there’s no way this makes sense now with the state of the rest of the unit, and after paying Tyler Algier a bit in free agency.
Then they try to make up for that pick by going offensive line in the second, and they take Chase Bisontis. Who is solid, but he’s never really played right guard before, and Isaacu Seumalo, who they just signed, hasn’t played it since 2022…and that was his only real year doing it.
Then Carson Beck at 65. I think Beck can be a fine backup/spot starter in the league for a long time. But there’s no real upside there. And for a team with a blank slate roster, they needed to be in talent acquisition mode.
Day Three was fine. And what brings together the two-minute clock thought for me is this - they didn’t trade around at all. They were the only team to sit and pick all seven of their original picks in the draft. So they just sort of had their board, didn’t check their own team context or league context, and made their picks and went home. Are we sure they weren’t on auto draft?
Seattle Seahawks: D
So I liked how Seattle maneuvered the draft. They added value and picks by moving down in certain parts. They attacked the secondary which saw multiple starters leave in free agency with good value picks. And they got aggressive in the mid-rounds by trading a future pick to take a guard. But…
The pick of Jadarian Price was reckless, and something you get to do when you win a Super Bowl. But Price is not the running back you take with the talent still on the board at other positions. And considering the next running back pick didn’t come off the board until the fourth round, it also seemed like a real miscalculation by Seattle.
I have no problem with how they back-filled the rest of the draft, but the top was a miss, and it put them back the rest of the way.
Colton Hood, Avieon Terrell, Emmanuel McNeil-Warenn, or any of the defensive linemen available at the top of the second would’ve been better picks at 32. They still could’ve taken Bud Clark or Julian Neal in the second, and gotten any running back in the third, maybe even Price.
And to not go for defensive line until the seventh round was surprising, considering keeping the depth strong felt like it could be a route.
Minnesota Vikings: D
The Caleb Banks pick might’ve been the most shocking in the first round, considering the foot injuries. For a team that hasn’t had a home run first-round pick since Justin Jefferson in 2020, a swing on a big defensive tackle that’s been dealing with injuries for several seasons is a scary proposition.
They then provided themselves some insurance, or just realized Banks’s injury history after they took him, because they doubled up at defensive tackle with the selection of Domonique Orange in the third round - a move on it’s own I actually like as a true two-gapping run stuffer.
But with Jalen Redmond and Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins turning heads last year and the pick of Banks, why do you also need Orange? Especially if you’re bypassing bigger positions of need and pushing them to late day 3.
Even after the draft, you can argue Minnesota still needs starting-caliber players at center, safety, and cornerback. And they didn't go after any of those positions until late in the third round.
All of this is without the context of also trading their best edge rusher in Jonathan Greenard. So the roster even got a little bit worse over draft weekend.
Los Angeles Rams: D-
The more I think about this, the more I hate this draft for the Rams. What keeps it from an “F” grade is I DO think the Ty Simpson thing can work out to some degree. But what stops me from giving them points for it is - how long is he the backup for?
And the longer he’s the backup, the older and less experienced he gets.
The Rams walked into the draft with seven picks, walked out with only five after trading up on Day 3, and their top two picks were a backup QB and their fourth tight end.
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