The 2026 NFL Draft is well behind us. 257 young men got to see their National Football League dreams come to fruition as they heard their names called in Pittsburgh. It might be an exercise in futility to grade a class immediately after the draft because none of these guys have played an NFL snap, but it's still a fun process and a good way to determine which squads should have high expectations for their rookies. Without further ado, here are our grades for the NFC's 2026 NFL Draft classes.
Arizona Cardinals: C
Round 1 (No. 3): RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
Round 2 (No. 34): OG Chase Bisontis, Texas A&M
Round 3 (No. 65): QB Carson Beck, Miami
Round 4 (No. 104): DT Kaleb Proctor, Southeastern Louisiana
Round 5 (No. 143): WR Reggie Virgil, Texas Tech
Round 6 (No. 183): LB Karson Sharar, Iowa
Round 7 (No. 217): OT Jayden Williams, Mississippi
The morning after the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, I made my feelings clear. I HATED the Jeremiyah Love selection. They had a million different needs and took a running back. However, Love is arguably the most talented player in this draft, so it’s not the worst pick in the world. They got a pretty good value by taking Bisontis early in the second round, and it fills a need along the offensive line. Carson Beck is a bad quarterback who will undoubtedly struggle in the NFL, but I guess a bad quarterback is better than no quarterback at all? I like the Kaleb Proctor pick. He's incredibly athletic and should get plenty of snaps on this defense.
Atlanta Falcons: C+
Round 2 (No. 48): CB Avieon Terrell, Clemson
Round 3 (No. 79): WR Zachariah Branch, Georgia
Round 4 (No. 134): LB Kendal Daniels, Oklahoma
Round 6 (No. 208): DT Anterio Thompson, Washington
Round 6 (No. 215): LB Harold Perkins Jr., LSU
Round 7 (No. 231): OT Ethan Onianwa, Ohio State
This was a decent haul for the Falcons, considering they didn't have a first-round pick to work with. Atlanta filled all of the needs that it had going into this draft. Landing Avieon Terrell with the 48th pick was a steal since I see him as a first-round talent. They'll have to figure out if he is an outside corner or a nickelback, but he’ll still contribute to the defense. Zacharia Branch should eventually overtake Olamide Zaccheaus as the team's slot receiver. I even think Harold Perkins Jr. could emerge as a starter. Both he and Kendal Daniels will split snaps and make up for the loss of Kaden Elliss.
Carolina Panthers: A-
Round 1 (No. 19): OT Monroe Freeling, Georgia
Round 2 (No. 49): DT Lee Hunter, Texas Tech
Round 3 (No. 83): WR Chris Brazzell II, Tennessee
Round 4 (No. 129): CB Will Lee III, Texas A&M
Round 5 (No. 144): C Sam Hecht, Kansas State
Round 5 (No. 151): S Zakee Wheatley, Penn State
Round 7 (No. 227): LB Jackson Kuwatch, Miami (Ohio)
The Panthers nailed their first four picks. Each one of those guys will make meaningful contributions on the field this season. Freeling is so athletically gifted that he should be able to negate the potential absence of starting left tackle Ikem Ekwonu. Lee Hunter was the most productive defensive tackle in the country last year, so he should rotate in and give Bobby Brown III some snaps off. The Cats needed another pass catcher, and Chris Brazzell II will be just that. His size and 4.37 speed make him a matchup nightmare that will draw attention away from Tet McMillan. Will Lee III will eventually emerge as a starting-caliber cornerback in this defense. Hell, the Panthers even added another center in case Luke Fortner struggles. Carolina quietly had one of the best NFL drafts of 2026.
Chicago Bears: B
Round 1 (No. 25): S Dillon Thieneman, Oregon
Round 2 (No. 57): C Logan Jones, Iowa
Round 3 (No. 69): TE Sam Roush, Stanford
Round 3 (No. 89): WR Zavion Thomas, LSU
Round 4 (No. 124): CB Malik Muhammad, Texas
Round 5 (No. 166): LB Keyshaun Elliott, Arizona State
Round 6 (No. 213): DT Jordan van den Berg, Georgia Tech
This is a perplexing draft class for the Bears because they got some steals but also made some big reaches. Dillon Thieneman is an extremely athletic safety who should play meaningful snaps on this defense. Though Logan Jones was the best pure center in this draft and Chicago had a need at that position, it felt like they could've traded back, acquired more picks, and still selected him later. Sam Roush projects to be a TE3, and Zavion Thomas will probably start the year as a special teamer, so those picks are questionable. However, Malik Muhammad and Jordan van den Berg will likely be impactful rotation guys who give the Bears a few big moments this season. The problem is, they had a glaring need for an edge rusher and didn't take one in this draft, so that hurts Chicago's final grade.
Dallas Cowboys: A
Round 1 (No. 11): S Caleb Downs, Ohio State
Round 1 (No. 23): Edge Malachi Lawrence, UCF
Round 3 (No. 92): Edge Jaishawn Barham, Michigan
Round 4 (No. 112): OT Drew Shelton, Penn State
Round 4 (No. 114): CB Devin Moore, Florida
Round 4 (No. 137): DL LT Overton, Alabama
Round 7 (No. 218): WR Anthony Smith, East Carolina
This team needed a game-changing defender, and they got it with the 11th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Caleb Downs has all the tools needed to become a perennial Pro Bowler in the National Football League. He'll be a staple of the Cowboys' defense for several years. They also got one of the most athletic edge rushers in this draft class in Malachi Lawrence. If he receives proper coaching, he could become a force in this league. Then again, if Lawrence doesn't pan out, Dallas still has Jaishawn Barham and LT Overton to fall back on. One of those three guys will become a productive NFL pass rusher. Devin Moore is a massive cornerback who will become a starter somewhere on the defense as long as he can stay healthy. This was an excellent showing for the Cowboys.
Detroit Lions: B+
Round 1 (No. 17): OT Blake Miller, Clemson
Round 2 (No. 44): Edge Derrick Moore, Michigan
Round 4 (No. 118): LB Jimmy Rolder, Michigan
Round 5 (No. 157): CB Keith Abney II, Arizona State
Round 5 (No. 168): WR Kendrick Law, Kentucky
Round 6 (No. 205): DT Skyler Gill-Howard, Texas Tech
Round 7 (No. 222): DT Tyre West, Tennessee
Your NFL Draft grade is always going to get a boost when you can address your four biggest needs. They had to improve the offensive line, so they took iron man right tackle Blake Miller, who is guaranteed to be a starter for this team. Adding another edge rusher has long been a top priority, but it won't be any more now that they picked Derrick Moore, who should thrive as the EDGE2 in Detroit. Keith Abney II was originally graded as a third-rounder, so he's a steal after falling to the Lions with the 157th pick. Doubling up at the defensive tackle position should help them find a replacement for D.J. Reader, who was lost to free agency.
Green Bay Packers: B
Round 2 (No. 52): CB Brandon Cisse, South Carolina
Round 3 (No. 77): DT Chris McClellan, Missouri
Round 4 (No. 120): Edge Dani Dennis-Sutton, Penn State
Round 5 (No. 153): C Jager Burton, Kentucky
Round 6 (No. 201): CB Domani Jackson, Alabama
Round 6 (No. 216): K Trey Smack, Florida
Cornerback play was an obvious point of weakness down the stretch, so the Packers used their first pick on Brandon Cisse, who could've gone in the first round. At only 20 years old, his best football is still ahead of him. Some would argue that they reached on Chris McClellan but got a steal in Dani Dennis-Sutton. If we flipped their draft spots, then it would make Green Bay look pretty smart. Jager Burton offers a lot of versatility along the interior offensive line, so he'll bring much-needed depth to that unit. They even picked arguably the best kicker in the draft class after Brand McManus cost the Packers multiple games last season. The only thing I would've liked to see is them go after a running back, but this is a really solid group.
Los Angeles Rams: D+
Round 1 (No. 13): QB Ty Simpson, Alabama
Round 2 (No. 61): TE Max Klare, Ohio State
Round 3 (No. 93): OT Keagen Trost, Missouri
Round 6 (No. 197): WR CJ Daniels, Miami
Round 7 (No. 232): DT Tim Keenan III, Alabama
LA received the worst grade out of every team that participated in the 2026 NFL Draft. For a team built to win a Super Bowl over the next two to three years with Matthew Stafford leading the charge, they didn't add any players who could make an immediate impact. Ty Simpson was a massive reach with the 13th overall pick in the draft. Considering they had holes at right tackle, wide receiver, and along the defensive line, that was a terrible choice. Then the Rams used their second-rounder on a guy who projects to be the fourth tight end in this offense. Los Angeles didn't add any players who could step in right away and immediately make the team better, which is why they earned my lowest grade from the 20026 NFL Draft.
Minnesota Vikings: B
Round 1 (No. 18): DL Caleb Banks, Florida
Round 2 (No. 51): LB Jake Golday, Cincinnati
Round 3 (No. 82): DT Domonique Orange, Iowa State
Round 3 (No. 97): OT Caleb Tiernan, Northwestern
Round 3 (No. 98): S Jakobe Thomas, Miami
Round 5 (No. 159): FB Max Bredeson, Michigan
Round 5 (No. 163): CB Charles Demmings, Stephen F. Austin
Round 6 (No. 198): RB Demond Claiborne, Wake Forest
Round 7 (No. 235): C Gavin Gerhardt, Cincinnati
Caleb Banks is a high-risk, high-reward pick. While he's an athletic freak, Banks also has a history of foot injuries, which is troubling for defensive linemen. If he stays on the field, he could be a big difference-maker on this defense. If Banks can't stay healthy, though, then they have a really good backup option in Domonique Orange, who could've gone in the second round. Jake Golday is a nice rotational piece who can allow the Vikes' older inside linebackers to take more plays off. Caleb Tiernan fills a need for offensive line depth and could've gone in the second round, so he was a steal at pick 97. Jakobe Thomas and Charles Demmings are both unpolished, but they have all the skills necessary to become important contributors on Brian Flores' defense in a year or two.
New Orleans Saints: B-
Round 1 (No. 8): WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State
Round 2 (No. 42): DT Christen Miller, Georgia
Round 3 (No. 73): TE Oscar Delp, Georgia
Round 4 (No. 132): OG Jeremiah Wright, Auburn
Round 4 (No. 136): WR Bryce Lance, North Dakota State
Round 5 (No. 172): S Lorenzo Styles Jr., Ohio State
Round 6 (No. 190): WR Barion Brown, LSU
Round 7 (No. 219): CB TJ Hall, Iowa
The Jordyn Tyson pick makes a ton of sense. One could argue that he is the best wide receiver prospect in this draft. They also made a smart decision by taking Bryce Lance and Barion Brown. Both of those guys have immense speed that should allow them to contribute meaningfully to this offense. Oscar Delp's athleticism was too good to pass up. Over time, he could develop into a really nice starting tight end. Lorenzo Styles Jr. tested off the charts at the scouting combine, so New Orleans made a low-risk, high-reward pick in the sixth round. The Saints picked well, but they were unable to come away with a pass rusher and a starting-caliber cornerback, which hurts their grade.
New York Giants: A+
Round 1 (No. 5): LB/Edge Arvell Reese, Ohio State
Round 1 (No. 10): OT Francis Mauigoa, Miami
Round 2 (No. 37): CB Colton Hood, Tennessee
Round 3 (No. 74): WR Malachi Fields, Notre Dame
Round 6 (No. 186): DT Bobby Jamison-Travis, Auburn
Round 6 (No. 192): OG J.C. Davis, Illinois
Round 6 (No. 193): LB Jack Kelly, BYU
Following the first round, I thought the Giants' draft strategy was misguided. But after seeing how the rest of the 2026 NFL Draft played out for this team, it’s fair to say the G-Men had a fantastic weekend. Arvell Reese is the most athletic edge rusher in this draft. If New York's staff can coach him up, then Reese could become the next Micah Parsons. Francis Mauigoa is the best offensive line prospect in the 2026 class. He'll start inside before eventually moving outside and becoming the franchise right tackle. I LOVED the Giants' Day Two picks. Colton Hood can easily become the CB1 on this team, and Malachi Fields will eventually emerge as the WR2 in this offense. Even sixth-rounder Jack Kelly will rotate in as a situational linebacker for the defense. My only qualm is that they didn't address their hole at the defensive tackle spot, which is why they had the second-best draft of any NFL team after the New York Jets.
Philadelphia Eagles: A
Round 1 (No. 20): WR Makai Lemon, USC
Round 2 (No. 54): TE Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt
Round 3 (No. 68): OT Markel Bell, Miami
Round 5 (No. 178): QB Cole Payton, North Dakota State
Round 6 (No. 207): OG Micah Morris, Georgia
Round 7 (No. 244): S Cole Wisniewski, Texas Tech
Round 7 (No. 251): DT Uar Bernard, IPP program
Round 7 (No. 252): Edge Keyshawn James-Newby, New Mexico
General manager Howie Roseman came away from this draft once again looking like the smartest man in the room. He landed his team a top-three wide receiver prospect in Makai Lemon. Eli Stowers will eventually become TE1 in Philadelphia with off-the-charts athleticism. Markel Bell and Micah Morris won't be starters, but they provide valuable depth to the offensive line, which is the lifeblood of this team. Though they landed a former Pro Bowl pass rusher via trade, that didn't stop Roseman from making one of the most fascinating picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. Familiarize yourself with Uar Bernard. He may have never played organized football, but his athletic skills are similar to those of Myles Garrett. It's a long shot, but if Bernard learns how to play the game, he could genuinely become a dominant force in the NFL. What else can we say but Howie did it again?!
San Francisco 49ers: C-
Round 2 (No. 33): WR De'Zhaun Stribling, Mississippi
Round 3 (No. 70): Edge Romello Height, Texas Tech
Round 3 (No. 90): RB Kaelon Black, Indiana
Round 4 (No. 107): DT Gracen Halton, Oklahoma
Round 4 (No. 127): OG Carver Willis, Washington
Round 4 (No. 139): CB Ephesians Prysock, Washington
Round 5 (No. 154): LB Jaden Dugger, Louisiana
Round 5 (No. 179): OT Enrique Cruz, Kansas
This was one of the more questionable classes to come out of the 2026 NFL Draft. The 49ers got some solid players, but it felt like they reached on multiple picks. De'Zhaun Stribling was worthy of a second-round selection, but it seemed like the Niners could've waited to draft him or even traded back to acquire more picks rather than taking him with the top pick of the second round. The same can be said for running back Kaelon Black, who was graded as a fifth- or sixth-rounder. I liked that they snagged Ephesians Prysock in the fourth round. He’ll make some noise on that defense. Unfortunately, San Fran's grade takes a tumble because its biggest holes were at safety and offensive guard, and they didn't address either of those positions. The fallout from this class has made the Niners look bad. Whenever your head coach and general manager feel like they have to defend their draft strategy, that's not a good sign. This wasn't the worst draft in the league, but it was far from the best.
Seattle Seahawks: B
Round 1 (No. 32): RB Jadarian Price, Notre Dame
Round 2 (No. 64): S Bud Clark, TCU
Round 3 (No. 99): CB Julian Neal, Arkansas
Round 5 (No. 148): OG Beau Stephens, Iowa
Round 6 (No. 199): WR Emmanuel Henderson Jr., Kansas
Round 7 (No. 236): CB Andre Fuller, Toledo
Round 7 (No. 242): DT Deven Eastern, Minnesota
Round 7 (No. 255): CB Michael Dansby, Arizona
There were not a lot of holes on this roster, so the Seahawks did well by addressing their needs while also getting good draft value. Jadarian Price was the clear-cut second-best running back in the 2026 NFL Draft, so he'll probably emerge as the RB2 in Seattle. After losing Riq Woolen to free agency, they selected three cornerbacks, including Julian Neal, who, at the very least, can become a sound rotational piece in the secondary. One of those three guys is bound to become the Seahawks' new CB2. They needed another safety to replace Coby Bryant, and Bud Clark fits the mold of a Seattle defensive back. This was a nice outing for the 'Hawks.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: B+
Round 1 (No. 15): Edge Rueben Bain Jr., Miami
Round 2 (No. 46): LB Josiah Trotter, Missouri
Round 3 (No. 84): WR Ted Hurst, Georgia State
Round 4 (No. 116): DB Keionte Scott, Miami
Round 5 (No. 155): DT DeMonte Capehart, Clemson
Round 5 (No. 160): OG Billy Schrauth, Notre Dame
Round 6 (No. 185): TE Bauer Sharp, LSU
The Bucs made the most of their draft picks, using every selection to address a key area of need. Tampa has been searching for an elite edge rusher, so they got one of the most productive in the nation in Rueben Bain. Lavonte David is no longer on the roster, so the Buccaneers found a productive run stuffer and tackler in Josiah Trotter. 6'4" wideout Ted Hurst was projected to go in the second round. Not only is he a steal, but he’ll also fill the big-body wide receiver role that Mike Evans occupied for so many years. Keionte Scott was another steal in the fourth round, who should serve as a quality replacement for Jamel Dean. They even added tight end and offensive line depth on Day Three.
Washington Commanders: A-
Round 1 (No. 7): LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State
Round 3 (No. 71): WR Antonio Williams, Clemson
Round 5 (No. 147): Edge Joshua Josephs, Tennessee
Round 6 (No. 187): RB Kaytron Allen, Penn State
Round 6 (No. 209): C Matt Gulbin, Michigan State
Round 7 (No. 223): QB Athan Kaliakmanis, Rutgers
Sonny Styles might have been a top-ten pick, but he was still a steal for the Commanders. He will immediately make Washington's defense younger and - more importantly - faster. Styles will be the leader of that unit for the next decade. Antonio Williams' quick feet and compact size make him an ideal slot wideout, which will open things up more for Terry McLaurin. Kaytron Allen should become this team's RB2 and be the thunder to Bill Croskey-Merritt's lightning. Joshua Josephs adds defensive line depth, while Matt Gulbin gives the Commanders flexibility at the center spot after Tyler Biadasz departed in free agency.
