Live 2026 NFL Draft Grades: Round 2

2026 NFL Draft Grades for Round 2:

33. San Francisco 49ers: De’Zhaun Stribling, WR, Ole Miss – MILLEN Grade
    The 49ers had all day to trade down, and they should have done so because they wasted the No. 33 pick on a third-round prospect. De’Zhaun Stribling has some big-play ability, but he probably would have been available 20 picks later. Why not trade down and get some capital, even if it’s not at full value?
    
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34. Arizona Cardinals: Chase Bisontis, OT/G, Texas A&M – B+ Grade
    The Cardinals wanted to trade down, but they couldn’t find a suitor either. Unlike the 49ers, they didn’t reach. They were able to get a quality offensive lineman who can play both tackle and guard. This could fill a huge need for Arizona, and the pick provides value at No. 34.
    
    
35. Buffalo Bills: T.J. Parker, DE, Clemson – B Grade
    This is a fine pick, as the Bills know that they need to battle some great quarterbacks in the AFC. T.J. Parker has a load of potential and was once viewed as a first-round prospect, but didn’t have a great final year. Perhaps he can live up to expectations in Buffalo. I personally would have preferred a receiver or one of the linebackers.
    
    
36. Houston Texans: Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State – A Grade
    Kayden McDonald is a first-round prospect who fell to the second frame. This is great value for the Texans, who needed to address the interior of their defensive line. They also smartly leapfrogged the Giants, who had planned on selecting a defensive tackle like McDonald.
    
    
37. New York Giants: Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee – A Grade
    The Giants were sniped by the Texans and Chiefs for their picks. They were going to draft Kayden McDonald here and Mansoor Delane at No. 10. It all worked out, however, because Hood is a strong value at this spot, as someone who easily could have gone toward the end of Round 1. Cornerback is a huge need, so this selection should make New York feel better about the sniping.
    
    
38. Las Vegas Raiders: Treydan Stukes, CB/S, Arizona – MILLEN Grade
    It’s only fitting that the Raiders get a Millen grade. What a dumb selection. How do they not realize that they needed to help Fernando Mendoza? It’s fairly obvious, given the huge needs at receiver and the offensive line. Instead, the Raiders selected a 24-year-old defensive back. Nice job!
    
    
39. Cleveland Browns: Denzel Boston, WR, Washington – A+ Grade
    What a steal! I had the Browns selecting Denzel Boston at No. 24 in my 2026 NFL Mock Draft. I would have graded that pick as a B+ or an A-, so this is easily an A+. Boston is a big receiver with play-making ability, and the Browns suddenly have two receivers with loads of potential.
    
    
40. Kansas City Chiefs: R Mason Thomas, DE/OLB, Oklahoma – B+ Grade
    I’d say the Chiefs needed an edge rusher, but that would be unnecessary because they need almost everything. They struggled to get to the quarterback last year, so an edge rusher in the top two rounds makes sense. R Mason Thomas is a speedy edge rusher with good potential, so this is a solid pick.
    
    
41. Cincinnati Bengals: Cashius Howell, DE, Texas A&M – A- Grade
    The Bengals have made some big improvements to their defensive line. They traded for Dexter Lawrence and now found themselves an explosive edge rusher. If Howell had longer arms, he would have been a first-round pick. Howell won’t quite replace Trey Hendrickson, but he’ll certainly help fill the void.
    
    
42. New Orleans Saints: Christen Miller, DT, Georgia – C+ Grade
    I’m not crazy about this pick. Christen Miller has talent, but hasn’t been able to put it together on the field yet. I get the upside, but I wish the Saints would’ve used another pick to help Tyler Shough or to address a greater need.
    
    
43. Miami Dolphins: Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech – A+ Grade
    I loved the two top linebackers expected to go in this round. Jacob Rodriguez is an extremely instinctive linebacker who will undoubtedly make Miami’s defense much better. The rudderless Dolphins desperately needed a player like this, and you can say that they’re getting value because there was some chatter that Rodriguez could go at the end of Round 1.
    
    
44. Detroit Lions: Derrick Moore, DE, Michigan – MILLEN DON’T FORGET YOUR KIELBASA FOR KIELBASA DAY Grade
    Yuck. I thought the Lions were going to trade up for Zion Young or Gabe Jacas. All of these talented edge rushers seemed like the Lions were going to fall to the Lions at No. 50. Yet, they moved up six spots for … Derrick Moore? The Michigan edge rusher was productive in school, but he’s maxed out and doesn’t have much upside, so I definitely ranked him behind the other edge rushers. Horrible!
    
    
45. Baltimore Ravens: Zion Young, DE, Missouri – A+ Grade
    Here’s the player the Lions should have drafted. The Ravens, instead, land yet another steal, which is what they do every single year because other teams don’t know how to draft. Young is extremely talented and easily could have gone in the first round. He has character concerns, but nothing nearly as egregious as Makai Lemon.
    
    
46. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Josiah Trotter, LB, Missouri – D Grade
    The Buccaneers had C.J. Allen fall right into their lap, but they took a different linebacker instead. This one is a head-scratcher. Josiah Trotter is a third-round prospect because he has issues in coverage. He’s good in run support, but this is a reach.
    
    
47. Pittsburgh Steelers: Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama – A Grade
    Germie Bernard has great upside, and he should have been taken about 10 spots earlier. This is a great pick for the Steelers, who had nothing at receiver outside of DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. Even better, the Steelers don’t have to deal with a receiver with some major character concerns.
    
    
48. Atlanta Falcons: Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson – A+ Grade
    The Falcons had some inside info on Avieon Terrell, given that his older brother plays the same position for the team. Avieon isn’t as talented as A.J., but Avieon is a smart and instinctive cornerback who easily could have gone at the end of the first round. Terrell is dinged for being small, but he plays bigger than his size.
    
    
49. Carolina Panthers: Lee Hunter, NT, Texas Tech – A Grade
    Lee Hunter had some first-round buzz, but bigger nose tackles tend to fall. The thing is, Hunter has good athleticism for someone at his size. I like the value the Panthers are getting here, as they are improving their troubled run defense.
    
    
50. New York Jets: D’Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana – B Grade
    D’Angelo Ponds has size issues, but if it wasn’t for those, he would’ve been a first-round pick. He was terrific at Indiana and has a good chance of being a big upgrade for a Jets secondary that lost Sauce Gardner.
    
    
51. Minnesota Vikings: Jake Golday, LB, Cincinnati – C- Grade
    I’m not a fan of this pick. Jake Golday is a big and fast linebacker, but he doesn’t have good instincts, so he’ll be out of position often. I had him in the third round, so this is a slight reach.
    
    
52. Green Bay Packers: Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina – A Grade
    I love this value. Brandon Cisse should have been a first-round pick with his size, athleticism, and talent. He’s a bit raw, but I don’t think he’s that undeveloped. I’ll be surprised if he’s not a good starter for the Packers sometime soon.
    
    
53. Indianapolis Colts: C.J. Allen, LB, Georgia – A+ Grade
    This pick is crazy because if the Colts had their natural pick in the first round and selected C.J. Allen there, no one would have had a big issue with it. The Colts then could have taken Allen in the second round, but they traded down and still got him! The Colts are filling a huge need with a very instinctive linebacker.
    
    
54. Philadelphia Eagles: Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt – A Grade
    Dallas Goedert doesn’t have much time remaining in Philadelphia, so with A.J. Brown leaving, and Makai Lemon escorting himself out of the pros very soon, the Eagles needed pass-catchers to complement DeVonta Smith in the future. Eli Stowers is incredibly athletic and could have easily been chosen 10 or so picks earlier than this.
    
    
55. New England Patriots: Gabe Jacas, DE, Illinois – A Grade
    The Patriots have traded up again, and I like that they did so once more. Gabe Jacas could have been chosen early in the second round as a quick and strong defensive end. He’s a good player in run support and the pass rush, so the Patriots are getting a quality upgrade on the edge.
    
    
56. Jacksonville Jaguars: Nate Boerkicher, TE, Texas A&M – 20016 DRAFT KIELBASA MILLEN GRADE
    Whoooaaaaa, what in the world is this pick? I had Nate Boerkircher in the sixth round. He’s a great blocker, but he’s not much of a receiver. Worst of all, he’s 25. The Jaguars could have gotten this guy on Saturday. What are they doing!?
    
    
57. Chicago Bears: Logan Jones, C, Iowa – B Grade
    This is a solid pick. The Bears needed a center after losing their starter to an unexpected retirement. Garrett Bradbury was signed, but he sucks. Logan Jones is a strong run blocker, so I’m not surprised that Ben Johnson drafted him. Jones needs to improve his pass protection, so he’s a bit of a project in that regard.
    
    
58. Cleveland Browns: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo – B+ Grade
    Many think Emmanuel McNeil-Warren fell, but I had him in the middle of the second round for most of the time. McNeil-Warren has good size and speed, but I’m not sure about the instincts, so I was never very high on him. The potential is definitely there, however.
    
    
59. Houston Texans: Marlin Klein, TE, Michigan – C- Grade
    We’re seeing tight end reaches in Round 2. Marlin Klein is a reach, as I had him going in the fourth round. He’s a speedy tight end, but was never productive at Michigan. Houston could have waited a bit longer to get him.
    
    
60. Tennessee Titans: Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas – B+ Grade
    The Titans have defensive needs all over the place. One of those needs was for a linebacker who can cover well. Hill fits the bill, and he makes sense for this range in the middle-late part of Round 2. The Titans traded up, but I wasn’t optimistic that Hill was going to make it to them in Round 3.
    
    
61. Los Angeles Rams: Max Klare, TE, Ohio State – B+ Grade
    We’ve seen some tight end reaches in Round 2, but this isn’t one of them. Max Klare was a highly productive player at Ohio State. He’s athletic and has lots of upside. The Rams needed another pass-catcher, and they love their two- and three-tight end formations, so this pick certainly makes sense.
    
    
62. Buffalo Bills: Davison Igbinosun, CB, Ohio State – D Grade
    I’m not sure why the Bills thought they had to trade up for a cornerback I had in the fourth round. They could have just taken Davison Igbinosun in the third frame, and it wouldn’t have been that great either. Igbinosun is a big corner, but was heavily penalized in school.
    
    
63. Los Angeles Chargers: Jake Slaughter, C, Florida – B+ Grade
    The Chargers had a disaster of an offensive line last year. Part of that was the injury to the tackles, but the other part was poor interior blocking. This will help. Jake Slaughter is a solid prospect who is strong and athletic.
    
    
64. Seattle Seahawks: Bud Clark, S, TCU – B Grade
    It’s disappointing the Seahawks haven’t traded down because they have so few resources. Bud Clark is a decent pick though, as he’s a ball-hawking safety with great speed. The problem is that he has injury concerns, so Seattle’s medical staff better have gotten this one right.