Live 2026 NFL Draft Grades: Round 7

2026 NFL Draft Grades for Round 7:

217. Arizona Cardinals: Jayden Williams, OT, Ole Miss – B Grade
     Jayden Williams is raw and makes mistakes, but he’s a powerful tackle with some quickness. The Cardinals are swinging for the fences here, which makes sense in Round 7.
     
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218. Dallas Cowboys: Anthony Smith, WR, East Carolina – C Grade
     Anthony Smith is not someone I had in my top-400 prospects. The Cowboys probably would have been better off taking draftable players who can help their defense.
     
     
219. New Orleans Saints: T.J. Hall, CB, Iowa – B Grade
     T.J. Hall is a smart cornerback and a terrific tackler, but has speed concerns. I had him going around this range, so this picks sense for the Saints, who needed cornerback depth.
     
     
220. Buffalo Bills: Toriano Pride Jr., CB, Missouri – B Grade
     Toriano Pride Jr. has great speed, but is undersized and struggles to tackle. I had Pride going around this range. Buffalo has had depth issues at cornerback, so pride could help in that regard.
     
     
221. Cincinnati Bengals: Jack Endries, TE, Texas – A Grade
     Jack Endries is a dangerous receiving tight end who needs to improve as a blocker. The Bengals need defense, but they could also use another intermediate target for Joe Burrow. I had Endries going in the fourth round, so this is an amazing value.
     
     
222. Detroit Lions: Tyre West, DE, Tennessee – B+ Grade
     Tyre West has a good motor and versatility, but he’s undersized. I had West going to the Lions at No. 213, so I have to support this selection. The Lions need more pass rushers, so this pick makes sense.
     
     
223. Washington Redskins: Athan Kaliakmanis, QB, Rutgers – B- Grade
     Athan Kaliakmanis over Garrett Nussmeier is wild. Kaliakmanis has plus intermediate accuracy and a quick release. He had a lot of buzz heading into the draft. He could be a developmental backup.
     
     
224. Pittsburgh Steelers: Robert Spears-Jennings, S, Oklahoma – B Grade
     Robert Spears-Jennings has great speed, and yet he struggles in coverage. The Steelers will have to develop him. He makes sense in the seventh round.
     
     
225. Tennessee Titans: Jaren Kanak, TE, Oklahoma – B Grade
     Jaren Kanak is incredibly fast and doesn’t drop any passes. He’s small for a tight end, however, and struggles with blocking. The Titans needed another tight end with Chig Okonkwo gone, and the Titans seem to have potentially added a decent threat for Cam Ward.
     
     
226. Cincinnati Bengals: Landon Robinson, DT, Navy – B+ Grade
     Landon Robinson is explosive off the snap, but struggles in run defense and is not lengthy at all. You know Robinson is going to work hard, and he could help Cincinnati’s poor defense. I had him going five spots earlier.
     
     
227. Carolina Panthers: Jackson Kuwatch, LB, Miami of Ohio – B Grade
     Jackson Kuwatch needs to be developed, but tested well at his pro day. The Panthers need to continue to address their defense, and I like that they’re swinging for the fences in Round 7.
     
     
228. New York Jets: V.J. Payne, S, Kansas State – A- Grade
     V.J. Payne is a big safety who possesses great strength and some ability to play deep free safety. This has been a troubled position for a while, so the Jets did well to secure a prospect who could have gone earlier. I had Payne slotted near the end of Round 5.
     
     
229. Las Vegas Raiders: Brandon Cleveland, OT, N.C. State – B Grade
     Brandon Cleveland is a stout run defender, but has short arms and lacking athleticism. He was seen as a seventh-round prospect, so this makes sense for the Raiders, who had to continue to add blockers.
     
     
230. Pittsburgh Steelers: Eli Heidenreich, RB/WR, Navy – B+ Grade
     Eli Heidenrich is a strong receiver and a tough run blocker, but isn’t a refined route runner. The Steelers listed him as a running back. I imagine they’ll use him on special teams, and he’ll be a hard worker, of course.
     
     
231. Atlanta Falcons: Ethan Onianwa, OT/G, Ohio State – B Grade
     Ethan Onianwa is a huge tackle who may have to move inside. The Falcons have known issues on their offensive line, so this pick makes sense. I had Onianwa going 10 slots later.
     
     
232. Los Angeles Rams: Tim Keenan, DT, Alabama – A- Grade
     Tim Keenan is a nose tackle who is solid in run support, but doesn’t generate much quarterback pressure. I had Keenan in the fifth round, so I like the value for the Rams, who are getting a player to shut down Seattle’s new running back.
     
     
233. Jacksonville Jaguars: Zach Durfee, DE, Washington – B Grade
     Zach Durfee is very raw, but extremely athletic. It’s good that the Jaguars are swinging for the fences with a position of need (as far as depth is concerned).
     
     
234. New England Patriots: Behren Morton, QB, Texas Tech – C- Grade
     Behren Morton is accurate, but doesn’t see the field well and makes poor decisions. This is not a pick I would have recommended. Why not just go with Garrett Nussmeier?
     
     
235. Minnesota Vikings: Gavin Gerhardt, C, Cincinnati – B Grade
     The Vikings needed a center because of retirement. Gavin Gerhardt is a prospect with tons of starts. He’s a good run blocker and has plus leadership skills.
     
     
236. Seattle Seahawks: Andre Fuller, CB, Toledo – A- Grade
     Andre Fuller is well built and fast, but is extremely raw. I like the Seahawks going for upside in the seventh round, especially with a prospect who fills a need and provides value as a sixth-round prospect.
     
     
237. Indianapolis Colts: Seth McGowan, RB, Kentucky – A- Grade
     Seth McGowan is a patient runner with great vision, but didn’t have many explosive plays in college. Still, he’s a decent enough prospect to emerge as the backup behind Jonathan Taylor. I had McGowan as a fifth-round prospect, so there’s good value with this choice.
     
     
238. Miami Dolphins: Max Llewellyn, DE, Iowa – A Grade
     Max Llewellyn improved his pass-rushing ability throughout his collegiate career. He has plenty of upside, as he could continue to improve. I love the potential here for the Dolphins; I had Llewellyn slotted in the fifth round.
     
     
239. Buffalo Bills: Tommy Doman, P, Florida – C+ Grade
     Nothing exciting to say with this pick. The Bills took a player who gives the ball back to the other team.
     
     
240. Jacksonville Jaguars: Parker Hughes, LB, Middle Tennessee State – C Grade
     Parker Hughes is a speedy linebacker, but is very raw and doesn’t diagnose plays well. I didn’t have him as a draftable prospect.
     
     
241. Buffalo Bills: Ar’maj Reed-Adams, G, Texas A&M – B+ Grade
     Ar’maj Reed-Adams is a strong and lengthy blocker, but he’s not quick and commits lots of penalties. Protecting Josh Allen is paramount, so offensive line depth is welcome. I had Reed-Adams in the sixth round.
     
     
242. Seattle Seahawks: Deven Eastern, DE/DT, Minnesota – B+ Grade
     Deven Eastern has a massive frame and can play in both the 4-3 and 3-4. He had 2.5 sacks last year. The Seahawks needed to get some defensive line depth, so this is a fine pick, especially when considering that I had Eastern in the sixth round.
     
     
243. Houston Texans: Aidan Fisher, LB, Indiana – A- Grade
     Aidan Fisher is an instinctive linebacker, but has some limitations for the NFL. Fisher figures to be a quality backup and special teamer in the NFL. He could have gone much earlier than this.
     
     
244. Philadelphia Eagles: Cole Wisniewski, S, Texas – B Grade
     Cole Wisniewski is an instinctive safety, but needs to bulk up. He could be a fine backup and special teamer. I had him going 15 selections earlier, so the value is fine.
     
     
245. New England Patriots: Jam Miller, RB, Alabama – B- Grade
     Jam Miller was not impressive last year and appeared to be weighed down by injuries. Maybe he can overcome them and be a decent backup behind TreVeyon Henderson, but that probably won’t happen.
     
     
246. Denver Broncos: Miles Scott, S, Illinois – B+ Grade
     Miles Scott is a physical safety with some decent instincts. He was seen as a sleeper by some. This is a solid selection by the Broncos.
     
     
247. New England Patriots: Quintayvious Hutchins, DE/OLB, Boston College – C+ Grade
     Quintayvious Hutchins is an extremely fast edge rusher with a high motor, but is severely undersized. He might just be too limited to be in the NFL.
     
     
248. Cleveland Browns: Carsen Ryan, TE, BYU – C Grade
     Carsen Ryan is a very limited athlete, but he blocks well. I didn’t have him in my top 400, so I can’t be too excited about this selection.
     
     
249. Kansas City Chiefs: Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU – A+ Grade
     Garrett Nussmeier has great arm talent, but really struggled last year. He was wincing in pain after almost every throw. It turns out that he has a dire injury issue, but there’s a chance he can overcome it, and if he does, the Chiefs might be able to develop him and eventually trade him to a team that needs a starter.
     
     
250. Baltimore Ravens: Rayshaun Benny, DT, Michigan – A Grade
     Rayshaun Benny is a great run defender, but needs to develop some pass-rushing moves. I had him going in the fifth round, so I’m a fan of this pick. I can’t say I’m surprised that the Ravens landed another steal.
     
     
251. Philadelphia Eagles: Uar Bernard, DT, Nigeria – A- Grade
     That’s right. Nigeria. Uar Bernard is one of the best pure athletes in this class. He’s 306 pounds, yet runs a 4.63. It’s unreal. He’s super raw, but could be developed into something special.
     
     
252. Philadelphia Eagles: Keyshan James-Newby, DE/OLB, New Mexico – B+ Grade
     Keyshawn James-Newby is undersized, but he’s explosive and has a high motor. I had him going in the sixth round, so the Eagles are getting good value with him, although he’s not nearly as exciting as the Nigerian prospect.
     
     
253. Baltimore Ravens: Evan Beernsten, G, Northwestern – C Grade
     Evan Beernsten was a good pass protector at Northwestern, but he’s not lengthy, and he’s also a very old prospect after spending seven years in school. There’s not much upside here.
     
     
254. Indianapolis Colts: Deion Burks, WR, Oklahoma – A+ Grade
     Deion Burks is small, but has terrific play-making ability. This is quite the fall for him; I had him in the third round. What an amazing value! It also fills a need with Michael Pittman Jr. gone.
     
     
255. Seattle Seahawks: Michael Dansby, CB, Arizona – C Grade
     Michael Dansby is a small and frail cornerback. He played very well for Arizona, but I don’t think it’ll translate to the NFL. I didn’t have him in my top 400.
     
     
256. Denver Broncos: Dallen Bentley, TE, Utah – C Grade
     Dallen Bentley has plus size with good receiving ability, but he’s not a great athlete and doesn’t block well. There’s not much upside here, which is what you want in Round 7.
     
     
257. Denver Broncos: Red Murdock, LB, Buffalo – B+ Grade
     Red Murdock is a strong tackler, but struggles to cover. He could potentially be a two-down linebacker down the road, but will have to make the team via special teams. I had him as a sixth-round pick, so this is a quality selection with the final pick of the 2026 NFL Draft.
     
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