Buccaneers, Titans, Jets landed the best picks of the 2026 NFL Draft

The 2026 NFL Draft is in the books, and there were standout value picks across all seven rounds. From the Tampa Bay Buccaneers landing a top-three player at No. 15 to the New York Jets grabbing a second-round talent late in the seventh, here are the best picks from each round.

Best picks of the 2026 NFL Draft that could change each team’s future

First Round: Rueben Bain Jr., DE, Miami (Tampa Bay Buccaneers Pick 15)

Tampa Bay landed the third-best player on my board and the top defensive end at pick 15. Rueben Bain Jr. brings a dangerous mix of power and agility as a pass rusher, which showed up all season. The first-team All-American led the nation with 83 pressures and added 9.5 sacks. He’s not just a pass rusher either, as he has the strength to hold up at the point of attack in the run game. This is a plug-and-play starter who fits perfectly in Todd Bowles’ scheme and can move across the defensive front. 

Second Round: Anthony Hill Jr., MLB, Texas  ( Tennessee Titans 2.60)

The Titans got great value late in the second round taking Texas linebacker Anthony Hill Jr., who was the last player with a first-round grade on my board at pick 60. Hill is a true sideline-to-sideline linebacker thanks to his speed and overall athleticism. He led the SEC in tackles for loss in 2024 with 16.5 and was named a second-team All-American. Look for him to be a key piece in Robert Saleh’s defense in Tennessee. 

Third Round: Emmanuel Pregnon, OG, Oregon ( Jacksonville Jaguars 3.88)

Even with four guards off the board, including two in the first round, the Jaguars still landed the best guard in the draft with Emmanuel Pregnon late in the third. On tape, he shows All-Pro potential with his athleticism and ability to block in space. He’s  also coming off a dominant season where he didn’t allow a single sack and finished as PFF’s highest-graded Power Four guard 

Fourth Round: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee ( Las Vegas Raiders 4.101)

Based off pure talent, Jermod McCoy carried a first-round grade on my board, and even with the knee injury concerns, I still had him ranked No. 38 overall. So the Raiders getting him at pick 101 is one of the better value picks in this draft. He brings a strong combo of size and speed at 6-foot-1, 188 pounds with 4.37 speed. When healthy, he’s been a standout, earning second-team All-American honors in 2025 and finishing fourth in the SEC with 13 pass deflections, even with teams rarely testing him. 

Fifth Round: Emmett Johnson, RB, Nebraska ( Kansas City Chiefs 5.161)

Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson, one of the most versatile backs in the 2026 NFL Draft, went to a great situation with the Kansas City Chiefs at pick 161. It’s a strong fit since Kansas City can use him in the passing game, which is where he excelled at Nebraska, finishing with the second-most receptions in a season by a running back in school history with 46 catches. He also shows good contact balance and vision as a runner and should be able to carve out a role in the Chiefs’ offense. 

Sixth Round: Dametrious Crownover, Texas A&M (New England Patriots 6.196)

A pick that New England media is already loving is Dametrious Crownover, and for good reason since I had a third-round grade on the Texas A&M lineman. What stands out right away is his elite length at 6-foot-7 with 35 ⅜-inch arms, along with impressive athleticism for his size. Give him some time and don’t be surprised if he develops into a starter in a couple of years. 

Seventh Round: VJ Payne, S, Kansas State (New York Jets 7.228)

Going into Day Three, Kansas State safety VJ Payne was the highest-rated player on my board, as I had a second-round grade on him. The reason I am so high on him is his testing numbers, NFL traits, and production. He checks every box physically at 6-foot-3, 206 pounds with 4.4 speed and a 35-inch vertical. On the field, he shows impressive range in coverage and is not afraid to come downhill and make plays in the run game.

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