Walt
By Walter Cherepinsky – @walterfootball
April 24, 2026
I’ll be posting 2026 NFL Draft Grades for every pick. Why not grade all of the trades?
Chiefs acquire CB Mansoor Delane (No. 9) from Browns for OT Spencer Fano (No. 6), Nos. 74, 148
I’m very confused about this trade. If Mansoor Delane were some can’t-miss stud cornerback prospect, or if the Chiefs only needed a cornerback, it would have made more sense, but neither is true. Delane wouldn’t have been the top cornerback in the 2026 NFL Draft class if Jermod McCoy were healthy, and the Chiefs needed to address nearly every position on the roster. The worst of it is that they probably could have taken Delane at No. 9. I can promise you that the Redskins weren’t going to select him. The Saints may have, but the Chiefs could have just gone with another talented prospect to fill a need at No. 9.
The Chiefs are the clear losers of this trade. The Browns, on the other hand, picked up free third- and fifth-round choices, and yet they were still able to draft the player they coveted at No. 6.
Grade for Chiefs – MILLEN
Grade for Browns – A+
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Cowboys acquire S Caleb Downs (No. 11) from Dolphins for OT Kadyn Proctor (No. 12), Nos. 177, 180
I don’t get the point of this trade either. Did the Cowboys really think the Dolphins would draft Caleb Downs? If they wanted to, they wouldn’t have dealt the pick to them! Jerry Jones fell for Miami’s bluff, surrendering two fifth-round picks for no good reason.
The Cowboys flushed two fifths down the toilet, but it wasn’t the end of the world because they at least obtained a top player in this class. The Dolphins, meanwhile, did even better because they obtained much-needed draft capital and were still able to land the prospect they coveted and were going to draft at No. 11 (per Charlie Campbell’s intel).
Grade for Cowboys – C-
Grade for Dolphins – A
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Eagles acquire WR Makai Lemon (No. 20), 2027 seventh-round pick from Cowboys for DE Malachi Lawrence (No. 23), Nos. 114, 137
This is the first trade in the 2026 NFL Draft where we know the team that moved up wouldn’t have gotten their coveted prospect at their natural spot. We know this because the Steelers were on the phone with Makai Lemon when the Eagles were trying to reach him. That make me feel better about this trade than I did for the Chiefs and Cowboys.
However, the Eagles aided their arch rival by giving them two fourth-round picks, and the prospect they obtained has a very sketchy personality. Some teams removed Lemon from their draft boards for his very weird combine interviews. The Eagles supposedly didn’t know about them because they wouldn’t have drafted Lemon in the first round if they had known how he conducted himself.
The Cowboys won this trade. They acquired critical assets to move down three spots, and yet they still obtained the player they most likely coveted at No. 20.
Grade for Eagles – C
Grade for Cowboys – A
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Texans acquire G Keylan Rutledge (No. 26), No. 91 from Bills for Nos. 28, 69, 167
This was a trade that came out of left field. I don’t get why the Texans felt the need to move up two spots for a second-round guard prospect. I didn’t get the sense that the 49ers had much interest at No. 27, so what gives? It’d be one thing if the Texans gave up just a fifth-round pick to move up for Keylan Rutledge, but they also traded down 22 spots in the third round.
The Bills easily won this trade. They picked up a free fifth-rounder and moved up into the early portion of the third round, which is a big deal.
Grade for Texans – MILLEN
Grade for Bills – A
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Dolphins acquire CB Chris Johnson (No. 27), No. 138 from 49ers for Nos. 30, 90
This is another weird trade for the team that moved up. I don’t understand what the Dolphins were trying to accomplish with this move. Chris Johnson was not some highly coveted prospect, and it wasn’t even clear if he would be chosen in the first round. There were several cornerbacks the Dolphins could have chosen instead, so why move down from No. 90 to 138, just to take him? It makes no sense.
The 49ers easily won this trade. Going from the end of the fourth round to the middle-late portion of the third frame is a huge deal.
Grade for Dolphins – D
Grade for 49ers – A
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Patriots acquire OT Caleb Lomu (No. 28) from Bills for Nos. 31, 125
We finally have a trade where the team moving up won the deal!
This trade made all the sense in the world for the Patriots, who needed to find players to protect Drake Maye. Caleb Lomu was the final first-round tackle available, and the Patriots certainly had to leap the 49ers and Chiefs to get him.
As for the Bills, it’s nice that they got a free fourth-round pick out of the deal, but at what cost? They helped their top competitor to protect their MVP-caliber quarterback. This could hurt them in the long run, so I’m not going to grade them favorably.
Grade for Patriots – A-
Grade for Bills – C
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Jets acquire WR Omar Cooper Jr. (No. 30) from 49ers for Nos. 33, 179
This is not an instance where we can say the team that traded up had no reason to do so. The Bills at No. 31 need a receiver and could have selected Omar Cooper, so it was right for the Jets to leap over their rival and obtain their coveted receiver. It only ended up costing them a late fifth-round pick, which is fine.
This trade makes sense for the 49ers as well. There are plenty of decent prospects still available, so why not move down three spots and pick up a free fifth-round pick?
Grade for Jets – B+
Grade for 49ers – B
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Titans acquire DE Keldric Faulk (No. 31), Nos. 66, 101 from Bills for Nos. 35, 69, 165
The Titans are another team that had to trade up for their desired prospect. The Seahawks interviewed with a bunch of edge rushers and certainly could have taken Keldric Faulk. Likewise, the 49ers have a pass-rushing need, so they could have chosen Faulk at No. 33. Tennessee moved down just three spots in Round 3 and 64 spots during the third day to make it happen, which seems reasonable.
Meanwhile, I’m sure Buffalo fans are mad that their team once again traded multiple times to move out of the first round, but picking up all of this extra draft capital should be worth it.
Grade for Titans – B+
Grade for Bills – B
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Texans acquire DT Kayden McDonald (No. 36), No. 117 from Raiders for S Treydan Stukes (No. 38), G Trey Zuhn III (No. 91)
Kayden McDonald was expected by some to go in the first round, so the Texans correctly identified that they needed to move up for him, especially with the Giants drafting at No. 37. The Giants were ready to draft McDonald, per Charlie Campbell’s sources, so even though Houston moved back 26 spots across Rounds 3 and 4, it was worth it.
This was also a good trade for the Raiders. They have tons of needs, so they need good players. Moving up 26 spots in the draft would give them a chance to draft a decent starter at the end of Round 3.
Grade for Texans – A-
Grade for Raiders – A
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Cowboys acquire LB Dee Winters from 49ers for No. 152
The Cowboys needed to address their dire linebacker situation entering the 2026 NFL Draft. They didn’t get a chance to do that because the Redskins selected Sonny Styles at No. 7. So, they acquired Dee Winters instead.
Winters isn’t nearly as exciting. He started last year, but was mediocre. Still, “mediocre” is a great thing for the Cowboys, based on how their defenders played last year. A fifth-round pick is fair for Winters.
The 49ers, however, won this trade. With Fred Warner being healthy, and Dre Greenlaw returning to San Francisco, Winters wasn’t going to be used as much, so the 49ers secured a free fifth-round pick for what would be a backup.
Grade for Cowboys – B
Grade for 49ers – A
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Lions acquire DE Derrick Moore (No. 44) from Jets for CB D’Angelo Ponds (No. 50), No. 128
Charlie Campbell called that the Lions were planning to trade up for an edge rusher. Unfortunately, we had no way to capitalize on this in the betting market! Still, he was right on the money, though my guess wouldn’t have been Derrick Moore.
With so many solid second-round defensive ends available at No. 44, it’s confusing as to why the Lions felt like they had to relinquish a fourth-round pick. There’s a decent chance Moore would have been available at No. 50, and even if that weren’t the case, Zion Young and Gabe Jacas would’ve been good picks. I would have even preferred them over Moore!
The Jets easily won this trade. They were able to pick up a free fourth-round choice just to move back six spots, and they still picked up a quality prospect.
Grade for Lions – D
Grade for Jets – A+
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Steelers acquire WR Germie Bernard (No. 47), No. 249 from Colts for LB CJ Allen (No. 53), Nos. 135, 237
The Steelers thought about trading up for Makai Lemon in the first round. They didn’t, so they paid the price. They didn’t want to make the same mistake, so they traded up for Germie Bernard, a prospect who easily could have been chosen a dozen picks earlier. It wasn’t ideal to pay a fourth-round pick, but there’s no guarantee Bernard would have been available six spots later.
I think this is a decent trade for the Steelers, but the Colts won the deal. They acquired a free fourth-round pick, yet they were able to obtain a mega steal in C.J. Allen, who could have been a first-round pick.
Grade for Steelers – B+
Grade for Colts – A+
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Panthers acquire NT Lee Hunter (No. 49), No. 159 from Vikings for LB Jake Golday (No. 51), No. 196
Lee Hunter is another prospect who fell, as he was getting some first-round consideration. They leapt over the Jets, who could have potentially chosen him. The price was dropping 37 spots on Day 3, which doesn’t seem like a huge price to pay.
The Vikings, meanwhile, fared even better. For moving down just two spots, they were able to upgrade their sixth-round pick into a fifth-rounder. I didn’t like the prospect they drafted, but this trade itself should be graded very positively.
Grade for Panthers – A
Grade for Vikings – A+
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Patriots acquire LB Gabe Jacas (No. 55) from Chargers for G Jake Slaughter (No. 63), Nos. 131, 202
I mentioned earlier when discussing the Lions trade that there were plenty of quality edge rushers available. Some went off the board, so when the 55th pick came around, the Patriots felt like they had to move up for one. Gabe Jacas is someone who could have gone in the beginning of the second round, so I like the Patriots jumped up to get him. Giving up a late fourth-round pick wasn’t ideal, but it could be worth it.
The Chargers, meanwhile, did a great job acquiring a fourth-round choice to move down eight spots and still acquire a player they could’ve chosen at No. 55.
Grade for Patriots – A-
Grade for Chargers – A
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Browns acquire DB Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (No. 58), No. 152 from 49ers for DE Romello Height (No. 70), No. 107
It was a surprise that Emmanuel McNeil-Warren fell all the way to the end of the second round. Needing a safety, the Browns believed that they had to trade up from No. 70 to 58 to acquire McNeil-Warren, and I have to believe that they were correct. They dropped 45 spots on Day 3, but if McNeil-Warren will be as good as some people believe he’ll be, then the trade will be worth it.
The 49ers, of course, could have just taken McNeil-Warren. They dropped 12 spots and didn’t obtain someone as good as McNeil-Warren, so even though they moved up 45 spots on the third day, they probably should have just taken the better player, considering how close they are to winning a Super Bowl.
Grade for Browns – B+
Grade for 49ers – B-
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Titans acquire LB Anthony Hill Jr. (No. 60) from Bears for TE Sam Roush (No. 69), No. 144
The Titans deperately needed a linebacker entering the 2026 NFL Draft, so once some players at the position started coming off the board, they correctly identified that they needed to move up for one. They shifted up nine spots to get Anthony Hill Jr., and they paid just a fifth-round pick to do so. That’s good value.
The Bears also did well. I didn’t like the tight end pick, but getting a fifth-round choice was nice for a team that has plenty of holes on defense.
Grade for Titans – A-
Grade for Bears – B+
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Bills acquire DB Davison Igbinosun (No. 62) from Broncos for DT Tyler Onyedim (No. 66), No. 182
This is a classic example of not recognizing draft value and trading up recklessly. Davison Igbinosun was considered a fourth-round prospect, so there was no need for the Bills to panic and move up for him. A sixth-round pick won’t make or break anything, but it’s still a wasted resource.
The Broncos easily won this trade. They acquired a free sixth-round pick, and yet were still able to draft a prospect they probably would have chosen at their original selection.
Grade for Bills – D
Grade for Broncos – A-
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Giants acquire WR Malachi Fields (No. 74) from Browns for Nos. 105, 145, 2027 fourth-round pick
The Giants went up an entire round for Malachi Fields, and it proved costly. Not only did they have to surrender a fifth-round pick; they also had to deal the Browns a fourth-round pick next year in a superior draft class.
Still, the Giants did well to recognize that they had to obtain a receiver, and there was no way a player of Malachi Fields’ caliber would fall to them. The Giants had to help Jaxson Dart, and they certainly did so with this pick.
The Browns, meanwhile, are not in a position to win now, so acquiring multiple resources, including a coveted 2027 draft pick, was a great move.
Grade for Giants – B+
Grade for Browns – A+
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Packers acquire DT Chris McClellan (No. 77) from Buccaneers for WR Ted Hurst (No. 84), No. 160
It was nice to see Green Bay and Tampa Bay orchestrate a trade because these two teams used to be heated rivals in the late 90s and early 2000s when they were in the same division. Their games were called the Bay of Pigs, and I feel like they never would have traded with each other. Two decades later, things are much different.
I’m not sure why the Packers thought they had to trade up for Chris McClellan. I had him in the fourth round, so it was odd that they panicked like the did. They surrendered a fifth-round pick for no good reason. Conversely, the Buccaneers did well to pick up a free resource. It’s clear that they won the latest round of the Bay of Pigs.
Grade for Packers – C-
Grade for Buccaneers – A
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Browns acquire OT Austin Barber (No. 86) from Chargers for Nos. 105, 145, 206
I thought about it, and I don’t think that Austin Barber would have been available at No. 105. I had him slotted at the 101st pick in my mock draft, so if I’m right, there was less than a 50-percent chance that Barber would be on the board. The Browns needed to continue to add tackle help, so I can understand why they traded up for him. Still, surrendering two resources isn’t ideal. I wonder if the Browns could’ve waited a bit and then moved up for Barber while surrendering less.
I’m not too crazy about the Chargers’ haul either. Sure, they obtained fifth- and sixth-roun picks, but at what cost? They’re a team ready to win now, so this third-round pick could have helped them accomplish that.
Grade for Browns – C
Grade for Chargers – C
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Steelers acquire G Gennings Dunker (No. 96) from Seahawks for DB Julian Neal (No. 99), No. 216
Steeler fans were undoubtedly frustrated with the Drew Allar pick, but the front office made up for it with this trade. For the low price of the 216th pick, the Steelers guaranteed a tough offensive lineman who probably should have been chosen in the second round. Perhaps Gennings Dunker would have fallen three more picks, but there’s no guarantee. This was a low price to pay for a nice guarantee.
The Seahawks, meanwhile, did well to pick up a free pick late on Day 3. It won’t move the needle, but perhaps they’ll get a quality depth piece with their new selection.
Grade for Steelers – A
Grade for Seahawks – B+
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Go to our 2026 NFL Draft Grades to see grades for every pick.
2027 NFL Mock Draft - May 12
Fantasy Football Rankings - May 9
NFL Picks - Feb. 9
NFL Power Rankings - Jan. 26
April 24, 2026
I’ll be posting 2026 NFL Draft Grades for every pick. Why not grade all of the trades?
Chiefs acquire CB Mansoor Delane (No. 9) from Browns for OT Spencer Fano (No. 6), Nos. 74, 148
I’m very confused about this trade. If Mansoor Delane were some can’t-miss stud cornerback prospect, or if the Chiefs only needed a cornerback, it would have made more sense, but neither is true. Delane wouldn’t have been the top cornerback in the 2026 NFL Draft class if Jermod McCoy were healthy, and the Chiefs needed to address nearly every position on the roster. The worst of it is that they probably could have taken Delane at No. 9. I can promise you that the Redskins weren’t going to select him. The Saints may have, but the Chiefs could have just gone with another talented prospect to fill a need at No. 9.
The Chiefs are the clear losers of this trade. The Browns, on the other hand, picked up free third- and fifth-round choices, and yet they were still able to draft the player they coveted at No. 6.
Grade for Chiefs – MILLEN
Grade for Browns – A+
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Cowboys acquire S Caleb Downs (No. 11) from Dolphins for OT Kadyn Proctor (No. 12), Nos. 177, 180
I don’t get the point of this trade either. Did the Cowboys really think the Dolphins would draft Caleb Downs? If they wanted to, they wouldn’t have dealt the pick to them! Jerry Jones fell for Miami’s bluff, surrendering two fifth-round picks for no good reason.
The Cowboys flushed two fifths down the toilet, but it wasn’t the end of the world because they at least obtained a top player in this class. The Dolphins, meanwhile, did even better because they obtained much-needed draft capital and were still able to land the prospect they coveted and were going to draft at No. 11 (per Charlie Campbell’s intel).
Grade for Cowboys – C-
Grade for Dolphins – A
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Eagles acquire WR Makai Lemon (No. 20), 2027 seventh-round pick from Cowboys for DE Malachi Lawrence (No. 23), Nos. 114, 137
This is the first trade in the 2026 NFL Draft where we know the team that moved up wouldn’t have gotten their coveted prospect at their natural spot. We know this because the Steelers were on the phone with Makai Lemon when the Eagles were trying to reach him. That make me feel better about this trade than I did for the Chiefs and Cowboys.
However, the Eagles aided their arch rival by giving them two fourth-round picks, and the prospect they obtained has a very sketchy personality. Some teams removed Lemon from their draft boards for his very weird combine interviews. The Eagles supposedly didn’t know about them because they wouldn’t have drafted Lemon in the first round if they had known how he conducted himself.
The Cowboys won this trade. They acquired critical assets to move down three spots, and yet they still obtained the player they most likely coveted at No. 20.
Grade for Eagles – C
Grade for Cowboys – A
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Texans acquire G Keylan Rutledge (No. 26), No. 91 from Bills for Nos. 28, 69, 167
This was a trade that came out of left field. I don’t get why the Texans felt the need to move up two spots for a second-round guard prospect. I didn’t get the sense that the 49ers had much interest at No. 27, so what gives? It’d be one thing if the Texans gave up just a fifth-round pick to move up for Keylan Rutledge, but they also traded down 22 spots in the third round.
The Bills easily won this trade. They picked up a free fifth-rounder and moved up into the early portion of the third round, which is a big deal.
Grade for Texans – MILLEN
Grade for Bills – A
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Dolphins acquire CB Chris Johnson (No. 27), No. 138 from 49ers for Nos. 30, 90
This is another weird trade for the team that moved up. I don’t understand what the Dolphins were trying to accomplish with this move. Chris Johnson was not some highly coveted prospect, and it wasn’t even clear if he would be chosen in the first round. There were several cornerbacks the Dolphins could have chosen instead, so why move down from No. 90 to 138, just to take him? It makes no sense.
The 49ers easily won this trade. Going from the end of the fourth round to the middle-late portion of the third frame is a huge deal.
Grade for Dolphins – D
Grade for 49ers – A
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Patriots acquire OT Caleb Lomu (No. 28) from Bills for Nos. 31, 125
We finally have a trade where the team moving up won the deal!
This trade made all the sense in the world for the Patriots, who needed to find players to protect Drake Maye. Caleb Lomu was the final first-round tackle available, and the Patriots certainly had to leap the 49ers and Chiefs to get him.
As for the Bills, it’s nice that they got a free fourth-round pick out of the deal, but at what cost? They helped their top competitor to protect their MVP-caliber quarterback. This could hurt them in the long run, so I’m not going to grade them favorably.
Grade for Patriots – A-
Grade for Bills – C
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Jets acquire WR Omar Cooper Jr. (No. 30) from 49ers for Nos. 33, 179
This is not an instance where we can say the team that traded up had no reason to do so. The Bills at No. 31 need a receiver and could have selected Omar Cooper, so it was right for the Jets to leap over their rival and obtain their coveted receiver. It only ended up costing them a late fifth-round pick, which is fine.
This trade makes sense for the 49ers as well. There are plenty of decent prospects still available, so why not move down three spots and pick up a free fifth-round pick?
Grade for Jets – B+
Grade for 49ers – B
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Titans acquire DE Keldric Faulk (No. 31), Nos. 66, 101 from Bills for Nos. 35, 69, 165
The Titans are another team that had to trade up for their desired prospect. The Seahawks interviewed with a bunch of edge rushers and certainly could have taken Keldric Faulk. Likewise, the 49ers have a pass-rushing need, so they could have chosen Faulk at No. 33. Tennessee moved down just three spots in Round 3 and 64 spots during the third day to make it happen, which seems reasonable.
Meanwhile, I’m sure Buffalo fans are mad that their team once again traded multiple times to move out of the first round, but picking up all of this extra draft capital should be worth it.
Grade for Titans – B+
Grade for Bills – B
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Texans acquire DT Kayden McDonald (No. 36), No. 117 from Raiders for S Treydan Stukes (No. 38), G Trey Zuhn III (No. 91)
Kayden McDonald was expected by some to go in the first round, so the Texans correctly identified that they needed to move up for him, especially with the Giants drafting at No. 37. The Giants were ready to draft McDonald, per Charlie Campbell’s sources, so even though Houston moved back 26 spots across Rounds 3 and 4, it was worth it.
This was also a good trade for the Raiders. They have tons of needs, so they need good players. Moving up 26 spots in the draft would give them a chance to draft a decent starter at the end of Round 3.
Grade for Texans – A-
Grade for Raiders – A
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Cowboys acquire LB Dee Winters from 49ers for No. 152
The Cowboys needed to address their dire linebacker situation entering the 2026 NFL Draft. They didn’t get a chance to do that because the Redskins selected Sonny Styles at No. 7. So, they acquired Dee Winters instead.
Winters isn’t nearly as exciting. He started last year, but was mediocre. Still, “mediocre” is a great thing for the Cowboys, based on how their defenders played last year. A fifth-round pick is fair for Winters.
The 49ers, however, won this trade. With Fred Warner being healthy, and Dre Greenlaw returning to San Francisco, Winters wasn’t going to be used as much, so the 49ers secured a free fifth-round pick for what would be a backup.
Grade for Cowboys – B
Grade for 49ers – A
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Lions acquire DE Derrick Moore (No. 44) from Jets for CB D’Angelo Ponds (No. 50), No. 128
Charlie Campbell called that the Lions were planning to trade up for an edge rusher. Unfortunately, we had no way to capitalize on this in the betting market! Still, he was right on the money, though my guess wouldn’t have been Derrick Moore.
With so many solid second-round defensive ends available at No. 44, it’s confusing as to why the Lions felt like they had to relinquish a fourth-round pick. There’s a decent chance Moore would have been available at No. 50, and even if that weren’t the case, Zion Young and Gabe Jacas would’ve been good picks. I would have even preferred them over Moore!
The Jets easily won this trade. They were able to pick up a free fourth-round choice just to move back six spots, and they still picked up a quality prospect.
Grade for Lions – D
Grade for Jets – A+
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Steelers acquire WR Germie Bernard (No. 47), No. 249 from Colts for LB CJ Allen (No. 53), Nos. 135, 237
The Steelers thought about trading up for Makai Lemon in the first round. They didn’t, so they paid the price. They didn’t want to make the same mistake, so they traded up for Germie Bernard, a prospect who easily could have been chosen a dozen picks earlier. It wasn’t ideal to pay a fourth-round pick, but there’s no guarantee Bernard would have been available six spots later.
I think this is a decent trade for the Steelers, but the Colts won the deal. They acquired a free fourth-round pick, yet they were able to obtain a mega steal in C.J. Allen, who could have been a first-round pick.
Grade for Steelers – B+
Grade for Colts – A+
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Panthers acquire NT Lee Hunter (No. 49), No. 159 from Vikings for LB Jake Golday (No. 51), No. 196
Lee Hunter is another prospect who fell, as he was getting some first-round consideration. They leapt over the Jets, who could have potentially chosen him. The price was dropping 37 spots on Day 3, which doesn’t seem like a huge price to pay.
The Vikings, meanwhile, fared even better. For moving down just two spots, they were able to upgrade their sixth-round pick into a fifth-rounder. I didn’t like the prospect they drafted, but this trade itself should be graded very positively.
Grade for Panthers – A
Grade for Vikings – A+
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Patriots acquire LB Gabe Jacas (No. 55) from Chargers for G Jake Slaughter (No. 63), Nos. 131, 202
I mentioned earlier when discussing the Lions trade that there were plenty of quality edge rushers available. Some went off the board, so when the 55th pick came around, the Patriots felt like they had to move up for one. Gabe Jacas is someone who could have gone in the beginning of the second round, so I like the Patriots jumped up to get him. Giving up a late fourth-round pick wasn’t ideal, but it could be worth it.
The Chargers, meanwhile, did a great job acquiring a fourth-round choice to move down eight spots and still acquire a player they could’ve chosen at No. 55.
Grade for Patriots – A-
Grade for Chargers – A
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Browns acquire DB Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (No. 58), No. 152 from 49ers for DE Romello Height (No. 70), No. 107
It was a surprise that Emmanuel McNeil-Warren fell all the way to the end of the second round. Needing a safety, the Browns believed that they had to trade up from No. 70 to 58 to acquire McNeil-Warren, and I have to believe that they were correct. They dropped 45 spots on Day 3, but if McNeil-Warren will be as good as some people believe he’ll be, then the trade will be worth it.
The 49ers, of course, could have just taken McNeil-Warren. They dropped 12 spots and didn’t obtain someone as good as McNeil-Warren, so even though they moved up 45 spots on the third day, they probably should have just taken the better player, considering how close they are to winning a Super Bowl.
Grade for Browns – B+
Grade for 49ers – B-
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Titans acquire LB Anthony Hill Jr. (No. 60) from Bears for TE Sam Roush (No. 69), No. 144
The Titans deperately needed a linebacker entering the 2026 NFL Draft, so once some players at the position started coming off the board, they correctly identified that they needed to move up for one. They shifted up nine spots to get Anthony Hill Jr., and they paid just a fifth-round pick to do so. That’s good value.
The Bears also did well. I didn’t like the tight end pick, but getting a fifth-round choice was nice for a team that has plenty of holes on defense.
Grade for Titans – A-
Grade for Bears – B+
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Bills acquire DB Davison Igbinosun (No. 62) from Broncos for DT Tyler Onyedim (No. 66), No. 182
This is a classic example of not recognizing draft value and trading up recklessly. Davison Igbinosun was considered a fourth-round prospect, so there was no need for the Bills to panic and move up for him. A sixth-round pick won’t make or break anything, but it’s still a wasted resource.
The Broncos easily won this trade. They acquired a free sixth-round pick, and yet were still able to draft a prospect they probably would have chosen at their original selection.
Grade for Bills – D
Grade for Broncos – A-
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Giants acquire WR Malachi Fields (No. 74) from Browns for Nos. 105, 145, 2027 fourth-round pick
The Giants went up an entire round for Malachi Fields, and it proved costly. Not only did they have to surrender a fifth-round pick; they also had to deal the Browns a fourth-round pick next year in a superior draft class.
Still, the Giants did well to recognize that they had to obtain a receiver, and there was no way a player of Malachi Fields’ caliber would fall to them. The Giants had to help Jaxson Dart, and they certainly did so with this pick.
The Browns, meanwhile, are not in a position to win now, so acquiring multiple resources, including a coveted 2027 draft pick, was a great move.
Grade for Giants – B+
Grade for Browns – A+
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Packers acquire DT Chris McClellan (No. 77) from Buccaneers for WR Ted Hurst (No. 84), No. 160
It was nice to see Green Bay and Tampa Bay orchestrate a trade because these two teams used to be heated rivals in the late 90s and early 2000s when they were in the same division. Their games were called the Bay of Pigs, and I feel like they never would have traded with each other. Two decades later, things are much different.
I’m not sure why the Packers thought they had to trade up for Chris McClellan. I had him in the fourth round, so it was odd that they panicked like the did. They surrendered a fifth-round pick for no good reason. Conversely, the Buccaneers did well to pick up a free resource. It’s clear that they won the latest round of the Bay of Pigs.
Grade for Packers – C-
Grade for Buccaneers – A
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Browns acquire OT Austin Barber (No. 86) from Chargers for Nos. 105, 145, 206
I thought about it, and I don’t think that Austin Barber would have been available at No. 105. I had him slotted at the 101st pick in my mock draft, so if I’m right, there was less than a 50-percent chance that Barber would be on the board. The Browns needed to continue to add tackle help, so I can understand why they traded up for him. Still, surrendering two resources isn’t ideal. I wonder if the Browns could’ve waited a bit and then moved up for Barber while surrendering less.
I’m not too crazy about the Chargers’ haul either. Sure, they obtained fifth- and sixth-roun picks, but at what cost? They’re a team ready to win now, so this third-round pick could have helped them accomplish that.
Grade for Browns – C
Grade for Chargers – C
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Steelers acquire G Gennings Dunker (No. 96) from Seahawks for DB Julian Neal (No. 99), No. 216
Steeler fans were undoubtedly frustrated with the Drew Allar pick, but the front office made up for it with this trade. For the low price of the 216th pick, the Steelers guaranteed a tough offensive lineman who probably should have been chosen in the second round. Perhaps Gennings Dunker would have fallen three more picks, but there’s no guarantee. This was a low price to pay for a nice guarantee.
The Seahawks, meanwhile, did well to pick up a free pick late on Day 3. It won’t move the needle, but perhaps they’ll get a quality depth piece with their new selection.
Grade for Steelers – A
Grade for Seahawks – B+
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Go to our 2026 NFL Draft Grades to see grades for every pick.
2027 NFL Mock Draft - May 12
Fantasy Football Rankings - May 9
NFL Picks - Feb. 9
NFL Power Rankings - Jan. 26
Charlie Campbell
