2026 NFL Draft Awards

Best Value Pick Round 1:

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: DE Rueben Bain Jr.

One of the shocking slides in the first round was Bain falling to Tampa Bay with the 15th overall pick. Bain was expected to go late in the top 10 or early teens, but he made it all the way to 15. Bain fills a big need as the Buccaneers were lacking a pass rush last season, and Bain could immediately contribute. Bain will improve their physcality at the point of attack and contribute to setting a tough edge in the ground game. In the 2026 NFL Draft, Bain the best value pick in the first round.

Best Value Pick Day 2:

Atlanta Falcons: CB Avieon Terrell

When teams don’t have a first-round pick, it can be difficult to add playmaking talent to their roster, but the Falcons were able to accomplish that with their second-day haul. Sources from teams picking late in the first round had Terrell as a candidate for their pick. They raved about his tape with his cover corner skills. While he is a little undersized, Terrell was a gritty defender with a real knack for forcing fumbles as well. Terrell could be an excellent slot corner as well as playing outside across from his brother, A.J. Avieon Terrell was a steal at pick 48, and Atlanta came away with a first-round talent.

Best Value Pick Day 3:

Cincinnati Bengals: C Connor Lew

The Bengals got an absolute steal with Lew, as he could be a long-term starting center for Cincinnati. Lew was on his way to being the top center prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft before a mid-season ACL tear ended his college career with Auburn. Lew was having an excellent season as a rock-solid pass protector and tough run blocker. He has quality size, strength, quickness, athleticism, and is an absolute technician. Once he’s healthy, Lew should be a good starter for the Bengals and was a steal on day three of the draft.

Best Trade:

Cleveland Browns: OT Spencer Fano

In the final weeks leading up to the 2026 NFL Draft, the Browns were known as a team that wanted to trade down. Cleveland was fortunate they were able to do it as the Chiefs moved up to the sixth-overall pick, and the Browns were able to slide down to nine while getting picks 74 and 148 in return. On top of the added picks, the Browns were able to still draft the player they wanted at six, Utah offensive tackle Spencer Fano. That was an excellent trade for Cleveland to get the player they wanted while picking up extra picks. The Miami Dolphins made a similar trade, but did not get as much in return, moving down only one spot.

Biggest Reach Round 1:

Houston Texans: G Keylan Rutledge

The consensus view had Rutledge as a day-two pick and mid to late second-rounder, but there were some teams that had Rutledge graded as a mid-rounder. They felt that Rutledge could have issues in pass protection and handling the speed of interior pro linemen. Thus, it was surprising when Rutledge went off the board to the Texans at the 26th pick. There weren’t any other landing spots for a guard in the remaining picks of the first round, so Houston could have potentially traded down and taken Rutledge. Of the 32 players taken in the first round, Rutledge’s name was the most surprising.

Biggest Reach Day 2:

Pittsburgh Steelers: QB Drew Allar

Players drafted in the second and third round typically carry a projection with NFL teams of “backup to starter.” That means teams envision them being a backup for a year, maybe two, but ascending into being a starter. With that projection, Allar was a reach at pick 76. While he has a quality skill set, Allar lacks instincts and consistency. He looks similar to Will Levis, Ryan Mallett, or Brock Osweiler. Pittsburgh probably could have gotten Allar on day three of the draft, and taking him in the top 80 was a definite reach.

Best Undrafted Free Agent Signing:

Los Angeles Chargers: OT Isaiah World

The Chargers got a potential steal in World. Before he had a late-season ACL tear, World looked likely to be a second-day pick. World is a massive offensive lineman that is strong in the ground game with the quickness and athleticism to pass protect on the edge. World slid because of the injury, and may not be back for the 2026 season, but World could be a steal that turns into a good swing tackle backup for Los Angeles in 2027.

Worst Draft Class:

Jacksonville Jaguars

I thought the Eagles and 49ers had poor drafts overall, but my finalists were the Bears and the Jaguars. Jacksonville was without a first-round pick because of the questionable Travis Hunter trade, but Chicago had a first-round asset. I think the Bears got a couple of starters from their draft class. Even though I am skeptical that they will be good starters, I think the Jaguars will have only one starter to show from the 2026 class.

The Jaguars made some reaches with the pair of Aggies. Tight end Nate Boerkircher is a limited receiver and looks like just a backup quality tight end. That was not a good value for their second-round pick. Defensive tackle Albert Regis could be a rotational backup as well. Oregon guard Emmanuel Pregnon was the best pick of their day two haul, and he could turn into a quality starter at guard. Maryland safety Jalen Huskey looks more like a third safety and backup with special teams ability. This group was not an impressive haul for Jacksonville, and they could have little to show for it in terms of starting talent.

The Jaguars had six picks on the third day of the draft, and in that group, I think there are only two that have a decent shot of being quality backups. Houston tight end Tanner Koziol and Baylor wide receiver Josh Cameron could stick as backups, but the rest of the picks look like players who are likely to top out as practice squad contributors. Jacksonville was without a first-round pick, so it would have made sense to take a shot on some former early-round players that slid. They could have had players like LSU’s Harold Perkins, Pitt’s Kyle Louis, LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier, among others. With what they drafted on days two and three, I think Jacksonville may have very little to show from this draft class in a couple of years from now.

Best Draft Class:

Miami Dolphins

My favorite draft classes were the Dolphins and Buccaneers. I thought both teams drafted extremely well with excellent values at each spot and really improved their rosters significantly in the 2026 NFL Draft. I think Miami could get more bang for their buck with some huge impact players, and therefore I give them the edge for the best draft class in 2026.

The Dolphins had one of the best drafts in the NFL, and it started with a good combo of picks on the opening night. Miami was poised to take Kadyn Proctor with the 11th pick in the first round before the Cowboys gave them two free picks at 177 and 180 in order to move down one spot at still land the player they were going to take. Proctor can immediately step in as the starting left or right tackle for Miami, and the massive Proctor has the upside to be one of the best left tackles in the NFL. At 6-foot-7, 355 pounds, Proctor is a powerful run blocker and a physical force at the point of attack. He can blast open holes for Devon Achane while improving the pass protection for Malik Willis. Proctor fits Miami’s stated desire to get bigger and more physical. The offensive line has been a problem for the Dolphins the past few years, and Proctor is a huge step forward in fixing it.

After trading down, Miami moved up from pick 30 to take Johnson. Johnson offers size, speed, and athletic upside. Corner was a huge problem for the Dolphins last season, and Johnson has the potential to be a No. 1 corner for Miami. Landing that possibility late in the first round is an excellent value. Losing Jaylen Waddle is probably going to be short-term pain, but getting an outside corner with No. 1 potential will make it a long-term gain. Miami hit premium positions with big upside players to start their rebuilding process with an excellent opening night of the draft.

The Dolphins had four picks on the second day of the draft, and they came away with some very good value selections. Second-round linebacker Jacob Rodriguez from Texas Tech could be a plug-and-play starter potential at inside or outside linebacker for Miami. The former quarterback has excellent instincts and is a tackling machine. He was a turnover machine last year for the Red Raiders and was a key cog in their defense, carrying them into the college football playoff.

In the third round, Miami landed two receivers. Texas Tech’s Caleb Douglas giving them a tall outside receiver with dangerous top-end speed to stretch defenses vertically. Louisville’s Chris Bell looked like he would be a first-round pick as he was dominating college football last year, including leading Louisville to an upset of the National Champion runner-up Miami Hurricanes. Bell looked like a young A.J. Brown with the Cardinals, and only slid in the draft because of a late ACL tear. He might need a redshirt year, but he could turn into a steal for Miami. Third-round tight end Will Kacmarek is a big, strong, blocking tight end who will help the Dolphins at the point of attack. Kacmarek will be valuable as a run blocker and pass protector.

The Dolphins finished off an outstanding debut draft for their new regime with a number of excellent value picks on the final day. Texas linebacker Trey Moore showed some high speed and explosion as an edge rusher, and he could grow with more opportunities in that role. Their next selection in the fourth round saw a steal in Pitt linebacker Kyle Louis. Louis was all over the field for the Panthers the past two seasons and is an excellent pass coverage linebacker. He could be a weapon in the sub package as a Will linebacker. Texas safety Michael Taafee, Missouri receiver Kevin Coleman Jr, Texas guard D.J. Campbell, and Iowa edge rusher Max Llewellyn all could make the team and become solid backups with upside.

It would not surprise me if the Dolphins look back at this draft as a turning point for their franchise. They landed some core building blocks on both sides of the ball. It would not surprise me if Miami has at least five starters from this draft class in a year or two with some solid backups and role players. They may even have more than five starters emerge, and a handful of starters from any draft class is incredible. New Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan did an excellent job and they Miami really improved its team with its 13 draft picks.