2026 NFL Draft Team Grades

These are 2026 NFL Draft Team Grades. I’ll be posting them throughout Sunday. Follow @walterfootball for updates.

2026 NFL Draft Grades - Round: Picks 1-16 | Picks 17-32 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 2025 NFL Draft Re-Grades | NFL Draft Team Grades

Las Vegas Raiders: C- Grade

Goals Entering the 2026 NFL Draft: The Raiders will have a new franchise quarterback in Fernando Mendoza, but they have to make sure that he doesn’t fail because of poor protection or a lack of weapons. The Raiders must surround Mendoza with as much talent as possible to make sure Mendoza has the best chance to succeed in the pros.

2026 NFL Draft Accomplishments: Charlie Campbell said it best on Twitter when he opined that the Raiders’ current regime doesn’t know how to draft. He correctly pointed out that the Raiders constantly reached and neglected Mendoza. This is the opposite of what they needed to do in the 2026 NFL Draft.

The Raiders have an atrocious group of receivers, yet they only addressed the position at No. 195, which could really hurt Mendoza’s development. Only one offensive lineman was acquired prior to Round 7. This was irresponsible drafting.

It wasn’t all bad for the Raiders. Keyron Crawford should be a quality edge rusher, while Jermod McCoy might be a steal. Plus, Mendoza must be factored into the equation. However, this draft, as a whole, was a huge disappointment, and Mendoza should feel very discouraged with what happened after the first round.

New York Jets: A Grade

Goals Entering the 2026 NFL Draft: The Jets have holes everywhere. They need a franchise quarterback, but won’t have the chance to land one. They can at least set it up so that they have a friendlier environment for the one they draft in 2027. Interior line help and receivers are needed. The defense must be overhauled as well.

2026 NFL Draft Accomplishments: Unlike the Raiders, the Jets understood that they have to find weapons for their franchise quarterback, even if they don’t have one right now. They will eventually have one – I have them selecting Arch Manning in my 2027 NFL Mock Draft – and when they do, that signal-caller will be put into a great situation.

The Jets used their top pick on David Bailey to strengthen the defense, but they went to work on their skill players after that. They obtained nice values with Kenyon Sadiq and Omar Cooper to complement Garrett Wilson. The Sadiq pick was panned by some clueless publications, but he’ll likely be a terrific intermediate threat for Manning or whichever quarterback the Jets land next year. Cooper was a nice find at the end of Round 1.

Following the Sadiq and Cooper selections, the Jets went back to focusing on their poor defense. They made a number of quality selections, with every single pick scoring a “B” or higher in the individual NFL Draft Grades page. These picks won’t make the Jets much better right away because they still have no quarterback, but the front office accomplished its goal of setting up its next franchise signal caller for success.

Arizona Cardinals: C+ Grade

Goals Entering the 2026 NFL Draft: The Cardinals don’t have a right tackle on their roster, and No. 3 is too early to draft one, so they’ll be looking to trade down. They have so many needs, so they need the extra resources anyway. They had the worst defense in the NFL in the second half 2025, so they’ll need to find tons of talent on that side of the ball.

2026 NFL Draft Accomplishments: The Cardinals began the draft with a huge blunder. Like the Raiders last year, the Cardinals can’t support a highly priced running back because of issues with their offensive line and passing game. At least two years of Jeremiyah Love’s career could be wasted. You’d think teams would have learned from the Ashton Jeanty disaster, but the Cardinals did not. Don’t blame the general manager though – this was completely owner Michael Bidwell’s call. Meddlesome owners are horrible for NFL teams.

Of course, the Cardinals managed to address their problem areas, drafting Chase Bisontis and Carson Beck on Day 2. I can’t say I’m a huge fan of Beck, but the Cardinals made the right decision to see if they could luck into a potential starting quarterback. Bisontis, meanwhile, will upgrade the blocking. Arizona still has a weak front, but it’ll be better because of Bisontis and free agent siginng Isaac Seumalo.

The Cardinals reached with some of their third-day picks, so it wasn’t a great draft overall. However, the caveat is that if the Cardinals are terrible next year and luck into a franchise quarterback in the 2027 NFL Draft, that prospect will be set up well with Love and Bisontis, and the rest of the supporting cast. Thus, everything could end up working out even though things may seem bleak right now.

Tennessee Titans: A- Grade

Goals Entering the 2026 NFL Draft: Cam Ward showed improvement over his rookie year. The Titans added Wan’Dale Robinson in free agency, but they need many more offensive play-makers to make sure Ward lives up to his potential. Defensive pieces are needed as well because Tennessee had issues stopping most of its opponents.

2026 NFL Draft Accomplishments: Carnell Tate wasn’t the best player on the board at No. 4, but he was one of the two best players, along with Jordyn Tyson, who happened to be available to help Ward. Tate doesn’t project as a No. 1 receiver, but he’ll be a big upgrade across from Robinson. This pick undoubtedly made Ward happy, though I think selecting Tyson would have been better.

The Titans weren’t done in the first round. Many expected them to draft an edge rusher at No. 4, but they did so at No. 31 with Keldric Faulk, who inexplicably fell to them. Faulk was expected to be chosen in the teens, so he was an amazing value for the Titans, who needed to bolster their weak pass rush.

Tennessee wasn’t done helping Ward. It spent fifth-round picks on a tackle and a talented running back. A center was added later. This was part of a big third day in which the Titans secured three picks that scored A- or better. Tennessee’s Day 3 haul solidified its strong draft class.

New York Giants: C Grade

Goals Entering the 2026 NFL Draft: The Giants need to spend several of their picks to help Jaxson Dart. Adding talent on the offensive line and to the receiver group would make a lot of sense, though New York is smitten Jeremiyah Love. The Giants also need to focus on improving their defensive line and secondary.

2026 NFL Draft Accomplishments: The Titans opted to pass on Arvell Reese in favor of a receiver. This was the right decision to help their young quarterback even though the edge rush was a huge need for them. The Giants were confronted with the same decision, but decided to do the opposite. They could have helped Dart by selecting Tyson, but they went with Reese instead even though they had far less of a need on the edge than Tennessee did. It’s curious as to why the Giants made this decision when they had the opportunity to draft the better of the two receivers.

One could say that New York helped Dart with their next top-10 selection, but that’s not entirely true. The Giants spent the 10th-overall choice on Francis Mauigoa, who will have to play out of position until Jermaine Eluemunor leaves the team. A big issue, aside from the positional switch, is that Mauigoa has a back injury and may miss a chunk of his rookie season. This is obviously not ideal for Dart.

Only one pick might aid Dart completely this year, and that was the third-rounder used on Malachi Fields. The Giants also made another great selection with Colton Hood on Day 2, so this haul wasn’t a total disaster. The Giants were able to obtain some good players, but this draft class was a disappointment overall because the Giants failed to put Dart into the best possible situation to succeed.

Cleveland Browns: A Grade

Goals Entering the 2026 NFL Draft: The Browns don’t really seem to have a plan at the moment. They have two big needs – receiver, left tackle – which they can address with their two first-round picks. This will help either Deshaun Watson or Shedeur Sanders, but Cleveland’s road to competitiveness is long and impossible.

2026 NFL Draft Accomplishments: It turns out that Cleveland’s plan was to make great draft decisions, at least at the beginning of the weekend. The Browns had three picks in the top 39, and all three scored between A+ and A-. One of the picks was a trade down with the Chiefs, where Cleveland picked up free third- and fifth-round selections, and yet were still able to obtain the player they coveted (Spencer Fano) three picks later.

The Browns followed up their tackle pick with two receiver selections. K.C. Concepcion was a strong choice at No. 24, but one of the best values in this entire draft was Denzel Boston at No. 39. Cleveland followed that up with another quality bargain at No. 58 with Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, but I want to concentrate on Concepcion and Boston because the duo has the potential to turn a major weakness into a strength to help the team’s young Pro Bowl quarterback.

I didn’t like some of the picks the Browns made on Day 3, but it wasn’t all bad. They were able to add a couple more quality selections to complete their great draft class. It’s not often that we get to say that the Browns did a terrific job, but it’s definitely appropriate right now.

Washington Redskins: A Grade

Goals Entering the 2026 NFL Draft: The Redskins have just two picks in the first four rounds, so they need to draft very carefully. They somehow have to both find Jayden Daniels another weapon and improve their horrible defense that has issues at every level. Good luck, Washington.

2026 NFL Draft Accomplishments: Washington didn’t have much to work with, but it made the most of what it had. Of the four picks the Redskins had in the top 200, all of them scored in the “A” range. They drafted incredibly well, selecting either mega talents or great bargains.

The Redskins planned on taking Carnell Tate, but because he was off the board, that allowed Washington to obtain the better player, as Sonny Styles figures to provide a much-needed colossal upgrade in the middle of the defense. Then, in the third round, Antonio Williams was obtained to provide Jayden Daniels with the upgrade he likely thought he was getting at No. 7.

Washington continued to draft strongly after that, securing a third-round prospect in Joshua Josephs in Round 5, and a fourth-round prospect in Kaytron Allen in the sixth frame. Allen and sixth-round center Matt Gulbin will give Daniels more of a supporting system, while Josephs could bolster a weak pass rush. All of these elements were able to add up to a stellar draft class for Washington.

New Orleans Saints: B+ Grade

Goals Entering the 2026 NFL Draft: The Saints appear to have hit a home run with Tyler Shough, so they need to put him in the best position possible to succeed. This means giving him some new weapons to go along with Chris Olave. The Saints also have to look at pass-rushing help and improved secondary play.

2026 NFL Draft Accomplishments: The Saints were gifted Jordyn Tyson as a result of the Giants foolishly passing on him. They desperately needed a receiver because of poor depth and Chris Olave’s concussion history. It’s possible that Tyler Shough will have two No. 1 wideouts moving forward, so he has to be thrilled with the team’s first-round pick.

The Saints didn’t stop adding talent for Shough. Following a second-round defensive tackle selection, the Saints spent their next three draft choices on Shough’s support system, acquiring a guard and two pass-catchers. Bryce Lance at No. 136 provided the most value of the trio. Meanwhile, Oscar Delp will allow Kellen Moore to utilize multi-tight end formations more often.

New Orleans’ final picks were used to bolster special teams and the secondary. The team had a strong draft class overall.

Kansas City Chiefs: C Grade

Goals Entering the 2026 NFL Draft: It’s truly amazing how many needs the Chiefs have, considering that they were in the Super Bowl recently. Aside from their backfield, the Chiefs need to address everything. The Chiefs lost their entire secondary in the offseason, so they need to focus on that and the pass rush. However, helping Patrick Mahomes recover from his torn ACL is essential, whether it’s via a receiver, a tight end, or more offensive line help.

2026 NFL Draft Accomplishments: The Chiefs must have disagreed that they have so many needs because they used two resources, including a valuable third-round pick, to move up from No. 9 to 6 in order to secure Mansoor Delane. This was a vital mistake because the Chiefs couldn’t afford to squander so many resources when there were so many needs to address. Besides, there was a good chance Delane would have been available at the ninth pick. I know for a fact that the Redskins were not drafting him. The Saints may have, but the Chiefs could have just obtained another talented prospect like Caleb Downs, Jordyn Tyson (available if the Saints pick Delane), Francis Mauigoa, or Rueben Bain.

Kansas City rebounded with its remaining two picks that it had prior to Day 3, securing Peter Woods and R Mason Thomas to bolster the weak front seven. The Chiefs should’ve had another second-day choice, but they lost it in the ridiculous trade for Delane.

The Chiefs made some strong value picks on Day 3, namely Emmett Johnson and Garrett Nussmeier. Overall, however, this was an underwhelming draft class because the Chiefs weren’t able to address many of their needs because they surrendered too much in an unnecessary trade.

Cincinnati Bengals: B- Grade

Goals Entering the 2026 NFL Draft: Defense, defense, defense. And then, more defense. The Bengals can’t stop anyone, so they need to address every level of their defense. They could stand to add another offensive lineman and a better backup for Chase Brown, but most of their picks need to be spent on the stop unit.

2026 NFL Draft Accomplishments: The Bengals used the 10th-overall pick on defense, but not in the way most fans were expecting a few weeks ago. The Bengals traded for Dexter Lawrence, who will provide an immediate boost to a weak interior defensive front. No one the Bengals could have obtained at No. 10 in a weak draft class could provide the immediate spark that Lawrence will generate, unless he becomes fat and happy from his new contract.

It came as no surprise that the Bengals used both of their second-day picks on defense, though the Tacario Davis selection was underwhelming. Davis is a very stiff cornerback who was chosen two rounds too early.

Oddly enough, the Bengals didn’t use another draft choice on defense until they were on the clock in the middle of the seventh round. While there were some quality choices spent on offensive linemen to protect Joe Burrow and a potent receiving tight end threat, the Bengals also wasted a fifth-round pick on a receiver when this asset could’ve been used to further bolster the weak defense. These missteps are enough to downgrade the Bengals after a strong start with Lawrence and Cashius Howell.

Miami Dolphins: B Grade

Goals Entering the 2026 NFL Draft: The Dolphins are in a rebuild. They have so little talent on their roster that every position is a need, excluding the two in the backfield. They need to draft the best player available, though at least one early selection needs to be used on a receiver to give Malik Willis a chance.

2026 NFL Draft Accomplishments: For a while, it looked like the Dolphins disagreed that they needed to give Malik Willis any sort of receiving threat. They exited Round 1 without a receiver, though they were able to land a highly needed offensive tackle in Kadyn Proctor after moving down one spot and securing two fifth-round picks. The Dolphins then moved up for a cornerback when that was an unnecessary transaction.

Just when it appeared as though the Dolphins would squander the 2026 NFL Draft, the team came through with one of the best values of the entire draft when they secured Chris Bell in the third round. Bell has ridiculous talent, but slipped because of injuries. It sounds like he’ll be ready for the start of the season, so Miami lucked out that other teams foolishly passed on him. The Dolphins also used another second-day pick on a receiver, but that was a reach in Caleb Douglas. An even bigger reach was third-round blocking tight end Will Kacmarek.

Aside from Bell, the best value the Dolphins obtained was second-round linebacker Jacob Rodriguez. He, Johnson, Trey Moore, and Kyle Louis should be able to help a putrid defense. Meanwhile, fifth-round receiver Kevin Coleman Jr. will provide some juice to the receiver group. Seventh-rund edge Max Llewllyn was a steal.

Despite the rocky start, the Dolphins rebounded and had a strong draft. They had enough missteps to take them out of the “A” range, so a solid “B” feels right.

Dallas Cowboys: A Grade

Goals Entering the 2026 NFL Draft: The Cowboys have an explosive offense, but couldn’t stop anyone last year. They added Rashan Gary to their defense, but still need one more superstar to make the appropriate improvement to give themselves a chance to make a playoff run in 2026. They’ll need to consider moving up for an edge rusher or Sonny Styles and then use some other picks to add another potential defensive starter or two.

2026 NFL Draft Accomplishments: Dallas had six draft choices prior to Round 7, and five of those were spent on defense. This couldn’t have been surprising to anyone, given how poor the Cowboys were defensively last year.

But were the picks good? Well, the Cowboys landed the top safety in the draft at No. 11, and then followed that up with a very speedy edge rusher, whom they obtained after trading down three spots. The Cowboys landed another talented edge rusher in the third round and then acquired a ballhawking cornerback in the fourth frame. Caleb Downs, Malachi Lawrence, Jaishawn Barham, and Devin Moore all scored “B” or better individually.

The Cowboys had to improve their defense, and that’s exactly what they did. It wasn’t a perfect draft, but Jerry Jones had a great weekend.

Atlanta Falcons: B Grade

Goals Entering the 2026 NFL Draft: The Falcons don’t have a first-round pick, so they’ll have to wait until Friday to find a replacement for the retired Kaleb McGary. Once right tackle is addressed, the Falcons will need to continue helping Michael Penix Jr. in the form of another receiver to complement Drake London. The defense could stand to add some upgrades as well.

2026 NFL Draft Accomplishments: Though the Falcons didn’t have a first-round pick, they certainly had an interesting draft. This is primarily because of their second-round pick, Avieon Terell. The Clemson product was the team’s initial selection, which was a special one because his big brother, A.J., is a great player for the Falcons. It’s possible that both Terrells will be starting in the same secondary.

Another thing that stands out about Atlanta’s draft is the Zachariah Branch pick. Branch is an explosive receiver who was tabbed as a second-round prospect until he was arrested a couple of weeks prior to the draft. It was unclear how far he would fall, but the Falcons took him in the third frame. He could be a great value for Atlanta if he stays out of trouble.

Of the Falcons’ six picks, only one scored worse than a B-, which was the C- given to Kendal Daniels, a linebacker-safety tweener. The best value was Harold Perkins, a fourth-round prospect who fell to No. 215.

The Falcons had their ups and downs, and it was all interesting. Despite not having a first-round choice, Atlanta made some improvements to its roster.

Baltimore Ravens: A- Grade

Goals Entering the 2026 NFL Draft: The Ravens already needed another weapon for Lamar Jackson before losing Isaiah Likely to free agency, so they could add a receiver and a tight end with some of their early picks. The Ravens also need to rebuild their offensive line after losing some players on the blocking unit recently. Some pieces should be added to the defense as well, and don’t forget that a successor for Derrick Henry should be acquired.

2026 NFL Draft Accomplishments: The Ravens are known as a team that always seems to land great values throughout the draft. This year was no exception, as Baltimore somehow snagged Zion Young off the board at No. 45 even though he was seen as someone who could easily be chosen in the 20s. This was after the Ravens took care of the other side of the line of scrimmage by obtaining the best guard in the class at No. 14. Vega Ioane is a better prospect than Tyler Booker, who went 12th last year. He’ll provide a huge boost for Lamar Jackson.

Three of Baltimore’s next five picks scored a B+ grade or better. This includes fourth-round receiver Elijah Sarratt, who was projected by some to be chosen in the second round. He was a better value than Ja’Kobi Lane in the third, which was a rare mishap for Baltimore’s front office.

The Ravens had a strong third day. Following the Sarratt pick, they landed some quality values in Chandler Rivers and Josh Cuevas, who could remind some of Mark Andrews. Rayshaun Benny was then a steal at No. 250.

I can’t see why the Ravens shouldn’t be graded highly. They messed up a couple of times, but this was yet another draft full of great values for them.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: A- Grade

Goals Entering the 2026 NFL Draft: The Buccaneers lost some key free agents like Mike Evans and Jamel Dean, who must be replaced (Evans perhaps in the form of Kenyon Sadiq). Otherwise, the Buccaneers need help defensively, particularly in their front seven. The edge rush must be addressed, while Lavonte David will need to be replaced.

2026 NFL Draft Accomplishments: There was a ton of buzz about the Buccaneers drafting Akheem Mesidor at No. 15 to improve their pass rush. I thought this was too rich for an old Mesidor. Luckily for the Buccaneers, Mesidor’s teammate, Rueben Bain, fell to them. Bain has short arms, but is likely to have a solid career. He was expected to go around No. 9, so the Buccaneers obtained a steal.

The opposite of that was Josiah Trotter in the second frame. Trotter fills a big need in the wake of David’s retirement, but he was chosen a round too early. The same could be said of third-rounder Ted Hurst.

Tampa Bay rebounded with some strong picks on Day 3. Both Keionte Scott and DeMonte Capehart went way later than they should have, and they both will bolster the defense. Another steal was fifth-rounder Billy Schrauth, who will provide a needed upgrade to the interior of the offensive line.

The Buccaneers had a strong draft. They had a couple of mishaps on Day 2, but otherwise came away with a strong group of players who will improve their roster.

Indianapolis Colts: B- Grade

Goals Entering the 2026 NFL Draft: The Colts don’t have a first-round pick, so they’ll need to wait until the second round to address their pass rush. They lost countless defensive ends recently, with Laiatu Latu being the only viable threat remaining. The Colts will need to address a few other needs as well, including linebacker and right tackle.

2026 NFL Draft Accomplishments: It was shocking to see that the Colts didn’t address their pass rush until their fifth pick, No. 156. The good news is that they were able to obtain an unbelievable value in C.J. Allen in the middle of the second round. Allen easily could have gone in the teens, yet plummeted a whole round. He’s a very instinctive linebacker and will be a big upgrade in the middle of Indianapolis’ defense.

The bad news is that none of the Colts’ other picks really stood out. Outside of Allen, no Colts pick scored higher than a B+ until the 210s when Indianapolis obtained some good values. The Colts should have considered drafting edge rushers instead of a second linebacker or a guard, though I didn’t mind the guard pick (Jalen Farmer) too much.

Indianapolis inevitably landed two edge rushers in George Gumbs and Caden Curry. Both were good values, but they were chosen at Nos. 156 and 214, respectively, so it’ll be tough for them to be impactful right away. Thus, the Colts will likely struggle against Trevor Lawrence and C.J. Stroud this upcoming season.

Detroit Lions: C- Grade

Goals Entering the 2026 NFL Draft: The Lions have lost so much personnel on the offensive line that the odds of them targeting that area at No. 17 are -300. The pricing is correct, as the Lions need multiple blockers. They’ll also need to find another pass-rushing presence to complement Aidan Hutchinson.

2026 NFL Draft Accomplishments: The Lions wanted Kadyn Proctor so much so that they were considering trading up for him. That idea went out the window when the Dolphins snatched Proctor at No. 12. Detroit had to settle for Blake Miller, who is just fine a consolation prize.

With their new tackle, the Lions entered Day 2 looking to address their pass rush. They identified a pass rusher they wanted and traded up for him, which was an irresponsible decision because they squandered resources when there were plenty of other edge rushers available, and it’s not like Derrick Moore is any better than Zion Young or Gabe Jacas.

The blunders continued into Day 3, where the Lions neglected to address the rest of their offensive line. They made some fine picks – Keith Abney was a quality value in Round 5 – but it’s shocking that the Lions, who had severe blocking issues at times last year, exited the 2026 NFL Draft with only one offensive lineman. Drafting a blocker over Kendrick Law, for example, would have been a much better strategy.

Minnesota Vikings: D- Grade

Goals Entering the 2026 NFL Draft: The Vikings have some defensive upgrades to make. They need a new edge rusher and some help in the defensive interior. They’ll also need to add talent at cornerback and safety. Quarterback remains a question mark, so perhaps a mid-round pick can be used on a future replacement if J.J. McCarthy is to be traded. Regardless of who the quarterback is, he’ll need a better center in front of him.

2026 NFL Draft Accomplishments: I heard from one team during the draft that said the defensive tackle class was “trash” this year. The Vikings, apparently, disagreed, because they spent two picks in the first three rounds on defensive tackles. Both of these players were reaches, particularly Caleb Banks, who was flunked medically by some teams. I understand that defensive tackle was a need for the Vikings, but they should have recognized the lack of talent at the position this year.

Banks and Dominique Orange weren’t the only reaches. The Vikings spent a second-round pick on third-round linebacker Jake Golday. Another instance of reaching was when the Vikings used a late third-round selection on Jakobe Thomas, whom I had slotted in the middle of Day 3.

It wasn’t all bad for the Vikings. For instance, third-round tackle Caleb Tiernan provided solid value, while fifth-round cornerback Charles Demmings was a nice bargain. However, the Vikings didn’t really make much of an improvement to their roster. In fact, one could argue that they are now way worse than they were entering the 2026 NFL Draft because they traded Jonathan Greenard and didn’t replace him at all. It’d be one thing if they received a nice haul for Greenard, but that wasn’t the case, as two third-round picks was not enough for someone as talented as Greenard.

Carolina Panthers: A Grade

Goals Entering the 2026 NFL Draft: Panthers owner Axe Tepper will always do whatever it takes to make his Bryce Young decision look good, so he could force another offensive player with the pick. The Panthers, however, need to improve their defense. They could target the best defensive player at No. 19 if Tepper doesn’t meddle again.

2026 NFL Draft Accomplishments: The Panthers had seven picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, and five of them scored an A- or better. The two exceptions were graded as “B” and B-. It’s safe to say that Carolina put together a tremendous draft class.

The terrific drafting began in the first round when the Panthers secured Monroe Freeling to protect Bryce Young. With tackle being a huge issue suddenly, the Panthers correctly identified that they had to address this position, and they did so with a high-upside player who can play on the blind side. Then, on Day 2, the Panthers obtained two steals in Lee Hunter and Chris Brazzell, both of whom could have been chosen 20-30 picks earlier with no real complaints. Brazzell could develop into a dynamic weapon for Young.

The Panthers continued their success on Day 3, snagging a talented cornerback in Will Lee, a potential starting center in Sam Hecht, and a possible future starting safety in Zakee Wheatley. This capped off their excellent draft.

Green Bay Packers: B Grade

Goals Entering the 2026 NFL Draft: The Packers don’t have a first-round pick, so they’ll have to wait until Day 2 to plug some holes on the offensive line. In addition to improved blocking, the Packers need some defensive line and edge-rushing help, as well as a better backup behind Josh Jacobs.

2026 NFL Draft Accomplishments: The Packers didn’t seem to agree that they needed to bolster their offensive line. They spent just one pick on a blocker, and it wasn’t even an early one. Their fifth-round choice was on center Jager Burton, and that was it.

Green Bay spent its energy upgrading its defense instead. Its top pick was a great value in cornerback Brandon Cisse, and then the Packers went to work on the front seven, selecting Chris McClelan and Dani Dennis-Sutton with their next two choices. Both were strong selections who should be able to bolster the pass rush, which had to be addressed in the wake of Rashan Gary’s departure.

Even though the Packers didn’t attack the offensive line, they still had a fairly solid draft class. They acquired some talented defenders, but they really could have used at least one more pick on an offensive lineman.

Pittsburgh Steelers: A Grade

Goals Entering the 2026 NFL Draft: The Steelers need to find a quarterback of the future, but they’re not expected to do so in the first two rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft. They need a better environment for this quarterback, which would entail upgrading the offensive line and finding more depth at receiver. The Steelers also have to clear up some aspects of their defense as well.

2026 NFL Draft Accomplishments: Pittsburgh nearly found its receiver when it called Makai Lemon and told him that he would be the pick. However, the Eagles traded up and snatched Lemon right out of the Steelers’ hands, which could be a blessing in disguise for Pittsburgh, based on Lemon’s behavior at the combine interviews. With Lemon gone, the Steelers pivoted to Max Iheanachor to provide an upgrade to the offensive line. Iheanachor will kick one of the incumbent tackles inside – presumably Broderick Jones – which could give the team two upgrades for the price of one. If this doesn’t work, third-rounder Gennings Dunker could be a major upgrade at guard. Dunker was a steal at No. 96 because he was pegged as a second-round prospect.

The Steelers eventually found their receiver when they selected Germie Bernard in the second round. Bernard was a better value there anyway, and the team won’t have to worry about any weird antics. Another receiver, Kaden Wetjen, was added in the fourth round, but he’s more of a return specialist.

Pittsburgh’s draft was mostly positive, but one huge whiff was the third-round pick used on Drew Allar. The Penn State product has a great arm, but can’t read the field at all and is a major project. Based on how the draft unfolded, Pittsburgh could have just waited several rounds for Garrett Nussmeier. Still, this isn’t enough to ding the Steelers very much because their draft class looks like a mostly positive one.

Los Angeles Chargers: C+ Grade

Goals Entering the 2026 NFL Draft: The Chargers will be getting their two tackles back from injury, but they need an overhaul for their interior blocking to make sure that Justin Herbert is actually shielded well this year. There are certain areas the Chargers need to upgrade on defense, namely the interior defensive line, linebacker, and cornerback.

2026 NFL Draft Accomplishments: The Chargers spent a whopping four picks on offensive linemen, but they took a quick detour in the first round when they addressed the other side of the trenches with Akheem Mesidor. This wasn’t a very good pick because Mesidor is an old prospect who was able to benefit from the presence of Rueben Bain. He was a second-round prospect, so the Chargers should have traded down or targeted another player.

The first blocker was chosen with the next pick, as Jake Slaughter was targeted to play the interior. Slaughter can start at guard and center, so his versatility will be key if the Chargers have mass injuries again. Fourth-round tackle Travis Burke can play both the left and right side, so his presence will be important for the same reason. Logan Taylor and Alex Harkey were both strong values toward the end of the draft. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if one of them eventually fought for a starting job at guard.

The Chargers had some other decent picks, including fourth-rounder Brenen Thompson, a dangerous threat as a slot receiver who can replace Keenan Allen’s production. There’s also Genesis Smith, who may not have sonic speed, but possesses great instincts at the position.

I’d say the Chargers came away with a passable draft class. I would not call it great, or even good though. The Chargers had eight picks, and only one (Taylor) scored higher than a B+. They also whiffed on their opening-round choice.

Philadelphia Eagles: C Grade

Goals Entering the 2026 NFL Draft: The Eagles need to concentrate on the offensive line and receiver corps. Lane Johnson is frequently injured and will retire soon, while A.J. Brown will likely be moved to the Patriots after June 1. Philadelphia also has a need at guard, and it wouldn’t hurt if the team found an eventual replacement for Dallas Goedert.

2026 NFL Draft Accomplishments: Philadelphia drafted some talented players, but they may not all pan out like the team hopes. The primary example of this is Makai Lemon. If Lemon didn’t have character concerns, he may have flirted with the top 10, but he had the worst combine interviews imaginable. If he behaves that way in the locker room, he’s not going to be on an NFL roster for very long, no matter how good he is. There is precedent for this with Antonio Brown in his Raider and Buccaneer days, and I’d say Lemon would actually be worse for the locker room than Brown was if his behavior persists.

Another example is Micah Morris. This is less serious because Morris was just a sixth-round pick, but he’s another talented player who has issues. His problems are a lack of work ethic and poor conditioning. He could bust because of those reasons. Meanwhile, the Eagles wasted a fifth-round pick on Cole Payton, who doesn’t have much starting experience and can’t read defenses.

It all sounds negative for the Eagles, but they made some positive draft picks as well. Eli Stowers figures to be a great threat over the middle of the field, while Markell Bell is talented enough to potentially replace Lane Johnson down the road despite being a third-round pick. He’s raw, but can be developed. And speaking of raw, seventh-round defensive tackle Uar Bernard ran a 4.63 at 306 pounds. I’m sure he’ll remind Philadelphia fans of a defensive version of Jordan Mailata.

Despite some positives, I can’t say I’m a fan of the Eagles’ draft. There’s high upside to it, but there’s a very low floor with the Lemon, Morris, and Payton picks.

Jacksonville Jaguars: MILLEN Grade

Goals Entering the 2026 NFL Draft: Charlie Campbell reported that the Jaguars plan on bolstering their defensive line, which is a good decision, considering that they have to slay the likes of Josh Allen if they are to advance deep into the playoffs. They don’t have a first-round pick, but they have five selections in the top 124, so they can have an impactful draft class.

2026 NFL Draft Accomplishments: James Gladstone should consider a different occupation. A year ago, he made an insanely dumb trade to move up for Travis Hunter, and yet that was better than what we saw out of him in this draft class.

The Jaguars, as mentioned, had plenty of draft capital in the first four rounds despite not owning an opening-round selection. Their first pick was No. 56, and yet they selected a sixth-round tight end in Nate Boerkircher. Their next pick, No. 81, was used on Albert Regis, who wasn’t even in my mock draft. There were other horrific selections, including Jalen Huskey, a UDFA-type player chosen at the very end of Round 3.

It wasn’t all negative for the Jaguars because I enjoyed the Emmanuel Pregnon selection, though I’m now doubting myself about evaluating Pregnon highly because Gladstone drafted him. Either way, Pregnon isn’t enough to prevent Jacksonville from receiving the dreaded Millen (F) grade.

Chicago Bears: C Grade

Goals Entering the 2026 NFL Draft: The Bears had one of the worst pass rushes in the NFL last year. Their pressure rate was in the bottom five, so it shouldn’t surprise anyone if they spend the five picks they have in the top 129 on multiple edge rushers and defensive tackles. Chicago must also address its secondary and find a left tackle and center.

2026 NFL Draft Accomplishments: The Bears made seven picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, and yet none of them scored better than a B+. Even worse, the Bears neglected their top positions of need – edge rusher and defensive tackle – throughout the entire draft. I understand that defensive tackle as a tough position to address because this was a terrible class for that position, but there were plenty of edge rushers Chicago could have taken to improve its ability to generate quarterback pressure.

Chicago did not have a success draft, but it made some decent picks. Dillon Thieneman is an athletic, instinctive safety who could have been chosen a bit earlier than No. 25. Logan Jones is a strong center who excels in run blocking, and he might end up being a quality starter. Sam Roush is a skilled tight end, though he didn’t fill a need at all. Cornerback Malik Muhammad also has talent, though he needs to bulk up for the NFL.

While it’s disappointing that the Bears didn’t obtain a pass rusher, they made enough decent selections to avoid a poor grade.

Buffalo Bills: C+ Grade

Goals Entering the 2026 NFL Draft: Even though the Bills traded for D.J. Moore, they still could stand to add one more receiver so they can fully turn their weakness into a strength. The Bills also need to address their putrid run defense by acquiring defensive tackle and linebacker help.

2026 NFL Draft Accomplishments: Buffalo fans were understandably frustrated on Thursday because their team traded down twice from No. 26 and failed to make a pick in the first round. While they acquired some draft capital, they also allowed the Patriots to secure the final first-round tackle prospect in the first round, which could end up being detrimental in future matchups.

The Bills eventually picked at No. 35, taking T.J. Parker. This was a solid selection, but Buffalo’s other second-round choice was not, as it was a major reach on Davison Igbinosun. Even worse, the Bills squandered whatever capital they earned in an irresponsible trade up for him. They probably could have traded down and acquired him instead.

Trades and Igbinosun aside, the Bills had a fine draft. I really like what they did on Day 3, securing plenty of quality values, including Jude Bowry, Skyler Bell, and Jalon Kilgore. Kilgore, in particular, was a tremendous bargain because he could have gone at the end of Round 2 with no complaints.

The Bills definitely made a couple of mistakes in this draft – namely helping their arch rival and top competitor – but they didn’t do a bad job overall.

San Francisco 49ers: MILLEN Grade

Goals Entering the 2026 NFL Draft: Though the 49ers made it to the second round of the playoffs last year, they had severe issues pressuring quarterbacks. They’ll need several new defensive linemen. They’ll also have to find insurance for Trent Williams, while also addressing a receiver group that is led by a 34-year-old newcomer and a third-year injury-prone player.

2026 NFL Draft Accomplishments: I received a text during the weekend that said, “I don’t think John Lynch prepared for the draft.” If he did, we certainly saw no evidence of that in a disastrous performance for San Francisco.

Things started off well for the 49ers, who moved out of the first round to pick up some draft capital. They received calls for the No. 33 pick throughout Friday, but opted not to trade the pick. They definitely should have because they used it on third-round prospect De’Zhaun Stribling. This was just the beginning of the disastrous weekend for Lynch. I didn’t mind the Romello Height pick like others did, but selecting Kaelon Black in the third round when everyone was passing on running backs seemed irresponsible. The 49es didn’t even need a running back, as they could have continued to bolster their weak defense.

Lynch kicked Day 3 off on a positive note with Gracen Halton to improve the defensive interior, but conducted a series of reaches after that. The worst pick as fifth-rounder Jaen Dugger, who wasn’t even listed in my top 400.

The 49ers deserve a Millen grade for this debacle. They made very minimal upgrades to their roster and spent too many picks on unnecessary positions.

Houston Texans: D Grade

Goals Entering the 2026 NFL Draft: The Texans have made some improvements to their offensive line this offseason after a sketchy start. They need to continue to add blockers. Houston otherwise doesn’t have any glaring needs, so it can stand to obtain the best player available.

2026 NFL Draft Accomplishments: Houston addressed the offensive line in the first round, but it certainly didn’t take the best player available. Keylan Rutledge as a second-round prospect, yet the Texans moved up a couple of spots to draft him. This did not make any sense, and neither did squandering a second-round pick on tight end Marlin Klein, who was considered a fourth-round prospect.

It wasn’t all negative for the Texans during the first two days because Kayden McDonald was a steal atop Day 2. However, Houston continued to make horrible selections on the third day. Febechi Nwaiwu was a slight reach, while fourth-rounder Wade Woodaz was someone I didn’t have being drafted. I liked the Kamari Ramsey and Aidan Fisher selections, but there were far too many negatives for Houston.

I recommended that the Texans take the best players available. In far too many instances, however, it felt like they were eager to draft the worst players available.

Los Angeles Rams: MILLEN Grade

Goals Entering the 2026 NFL Draft: We know the Rams want another receiver because they tried to trade for A.J. Brown – and this was before Puka Nacua starting biting people. The Rams will likely use their first-round pick on a weapon for Matthew Stafford. Otherwise, they don’t have many needs. Linebacker and offensive line depth should be addressed.

2026 NFL Draft Accomplishments: The Rams made one of the dumbest draft picks in NFL history. They were considered favorites to win the Super Bowl in the betting markets, and they had the best draft asset of all the other top teams. This gave them a huge leg up, as a great pick would make them so much better than their top competitors. However, rather than helping the current roster, the Rams opted to make a move for the future, selecting Ty Simpson. This was a horrible decision because it could cost them a potential Super Bowl. And it’s not like Simpson is even a great prospect. He had just 15 collegiate starts and melted down against top defenses.

Some will point out that this was like the two Green Bay moves to land Aaron Rodgers and “No Cookie” Jordan Love, but they are not very similar. The Packers obtained Rodgers and Love as values in the 20s. Simpson, conversely, provided no value as a borderline first-round prospect who wasn’t even guaranteed a starting job if he returned to Alabama. It was utterly shocking to see the Rams make such a foolish decision.

The Rams had five other picks, and four of them scored B+ or better. A third-round selection was wasted on an old prospect in Keegan Trost, but Los Angeles still did well otherwise. Still, the Rams’ choice to capsize their Super Bowl aspirations dominates this grade, despite all the good the Rams did on Day 3. The Rams simply failed in their objective to give themselves the best chance to win this year.

Denver Broncos: B Grade

Goals Entering the 2026 NFL Draft: The Broncos don’t have a first-round pick, yet they have several positions they’d like to address. In no particular order, they want to find upgrades at tight end, running back, linebacker, and edge rusher.

2026 NFL Draft Accomplishments: Thanks to a couple of trades, the Broncos didn’t make a selection until the third day of the 2026 NFL Draft. They’re difficult to grade for that reason, but it must be noted that of their seven selections made on Day 3, only one scored worse than a “B” grade.

Denver spent the third day addressing its needs. It acquired a potential replacement for John Franklin-Myers with Tyler Onyedim. R.J. Harvey was then potentially upgraded via the Jonah Coleman selection. Justin Joly, chosen in the fifth round, could be the type of Joker tight end Sean Payton has been looking for during his tenure with the Broncos.

I can’t grade the Broncos very highly because the chances of them landing an impact player for 2026 are slim because of when they acquired their prospects. However, there’s definitely some promise to this draft class, and Denver did well with the limited resources it possessed entering the 2026 NFL Draft.

New England Patriots: B+ Grade

Goals Entering the 2026 NFL Draft: New England’s primary goal is clear. Drake Maye must be protected after he was sacked at least five times in every playoff game. Multiple offensive linemen must be acquired to give Maye a better chance next year. Meanwhile, the defense must acquire some help in the secondary, with both cornerback and safety being areas of need.

2026 NFL Draft Accomplishments: The Patriots had a dilemma. They were drafting at No. 31, yet all of the first-round tackles were flying off the board. They had to trade up, and they were lucky enough to find an unusual partner in the Bills, who allowed them to obtain the final opening-round tackle on the board. New England secured Caleb Lomu, who could provide a big upgrade for New England at right tackle.

The Lomu pick earned the Patriots an “A,” as did the second-round choice, Gabe Jacas, who provided great value at No. 55. That’s where the overwhelming positivity ends, however, as none of New England’s seven other draft choices scored better than a “B” grade. This began with the third-round selection, Eli Raridon, who should have gone later because of his checkered injury history. None of the picks made on Day 3 really stood out, but none of them were overly horrible either.

While the Patriots had a mixed bag of draft scores, what helped was that they addressed their weak offensive line twice. They could have spent a third pick on a blocker, as some of the wasted third-day choices could have been used to help Maye’s protection. Still, the Patriots did well overall.

Seattle Seahawks: B- Grade

Goals Entering the 2026 NFL Draft: The Seahawks have only four picks, so they will want to trade down to acquire more resources. They’ll need to find a running back to replace Kenneth Walker. They’ll also have to obtain a cornerback to replace Tariq Woolen and an edge rusher to give them a better chance of defeating Matthew Stafford again.

2026 NFL Draft Accomplishments: So much for trading down! The Seahawks remained at their natural selections in the first and second rounds, failing to acquire any extra draft capital until the third round, where they moved down a few spots to acquire a late-round selection.

As for the picks the Seahawks made, they found their replacement for Kenneth Walker at No. 32 in Jadarian Price and then selected the athletic Bud Clark at No. 64. Price is an explosive player, but the Seahawks surely could have moved down 10-15 spots to acquire him, and it’s not like they can say that they didn’t have any opportunities to do so because almost every team ahead of them was able to trade back. Meanwhile, Clark is very talented, but has some medical red flags. He was supposed to fall, but the Seahawks may not have gotten the memo.

Still, these are quality prospects Seattle acquired. They may have a lower floor than other prospects, but there’s also a high ceiling with them. The Seahawks also addressed some of their other needs later, though three of their picks starting at No. 99 earned a C+ or worse.

This draft was a mixed bag for the Seahawks, but at least they didn’t completely squander the weekend like the Rams and 49ers did.