Arizona Cardinals
1 (3). Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love
2 (34). Texas A&M OG Chase Bisontis
3 (65). Miami (FL) QB Carson Beck
4 (104). SE Louisiana DT Kaleb Proctor
5 (143). Texas Tech WR Reggie Virgil
6 (183). Iowa LB Karson Sharar
7 (217). Mississippi OT Jayden Williams
Overview: I believe owner Michael Bidwill played a lead role in Arizona’s selection of Love, hoping to generate fan excitement about a team that’s made the playoffs once in the last decade. Love is an undeniably dynamic talent, but he immediately becomes the highest-paid running back in the league via guarantees, and the first year of his rookie contract is virtually certain to be burned on a non-competitive roster. There is simply no tangible competitive advantage in drafting a running back that high. Powerful and nasty, Bisontis was my favorite Cardinals pick at a glaring position of need. Beck is Matt Leinart 2.0: a soft-tossing pocket sloth with no upside. A bursty gap shooter and potential Day 3 steal, Proctor was 2025’s Southland Conference Player of the Year. The Love pick brought no value, and I don’t believe Beck is an NFL quarterback. This was an unimpressive haul.
Grade: D+
Atlanta Falcons
2 (48). Clemson CB Avieon Terrell
3 (79). Georgia WR Zachariah Branch
4 (134). Oklahoma LB Kendal Daniels
6 (208). Washington DT Anterio Thompson
6 (215). LSU LB Harold Perkins
7 (231). Ohio State OT Ethan Onianwa
Overview: The Falcons didn’t have a first-round pick after trading what turned out to be No. 13 overall to the Rams in last April’s move up for troubled EDGE James Pearce Jr. Thus, first-year GM Ian Cunningham entered this draft extremely short-handed, possessing only five picks, three of them on Day 3. I do applaud the Falcons for reuniting Avieon with older brother A.J. Terrell, manufacturing one of the draft’s best stories while knocking out a need at a premium position. A diminutive (5-foot-9, 177 pounds) 4.35 blazer, Branch is at worst an electrifying return-man prospect with a legitimate path to wideout playing time behind Drake London. Cunningham didn’t have much to work with here, but he did fine with what he had.
Grade: C+
Carolina Panthers
1 (19). Georgia OT Monroe Freeling
2 (49). Texas Tech DT Lee Hunter
3 (83). Tennessee WR Chris Brazzell II
4 (129). Texas A&M CB Will Lee
5 (144). Kansas State C Sam Hecht
5 (151). Penn State S Zakee Wheatley
7 (227). Miami (OH) LB Jackson Kuwatch
Overview: Freeling was one of my favorite team-specific first-day picks; hyper athletic with ideal offensive tackle dimensions, Freeling profiles as Carolina’s new long-term blindside protector after Ike Ekwonu tore his patellar tendon in the playoffs. Ekwonu is not signed for 2027. Hunter projects as a low-ceiling, 320-pound space eater. Commonly compared to Justin Hunter, NFL teams viewed Brazzell as an off-field mess, but he has the talent to stretch the field. Lee was a fourth-round steal with a 9.4 Relative Athletic Score at 6-foot-2, 189. Hecht is NFL-ready enough that it wouldn’t shock if he made starts at center as a rookie. This draft haul lacks flash but addresses needs and could net as many as five eventual starters.
Grade: B
Chicago Bears
1 (25). Oregon S Dillon Thieneman
2 (57). Iowa C Logan Jones
3 (69). Stanford TE Sam Roush
3 (89). LSU WR Zavion Thomas
4 (124). Texas CB Malik Muhammad
5 (166). Arizona State LB Keyshaun Elliott
6 (213). Georgia Tech DT Jordan Van den Berg
Overview: All-Pro LG Joe Thuney, who won 2025 NFL Protector of the Year, is included in this haul after the Bears got him from Kansas City last offseason for a fourth-round pick. I thought Thieneman was in play as early as No. 12 overall. He was robbery at No. 25 for safety-needy Chicago. Betting on Iowa offensive linemen has been a winning strategy forever; Jones should supplant Garrett Bradbury sooner rather than later. Jones won the 2025 Rimington Trophy as college football’s top center. GM Ryan Poles added a fifth-round pick (No. 144) by dropping from No. 60 to 69 in a Day 2 deal with Buffalo, only to land pedestrian “Y” tight end Roush behind Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet. 4.28 burner Thomas was a game-breaking return man in the SEC. He’ll be Ben Johnson’s new Kalif Raymond. I like the players the Bears drafted, but they added nothing at left tackle, and I was disappointed they did so little to address one of the weakest defensive lines in the league.
Grade: B-
Dallas Cowboys
1 (11). Ohio State S Caleb Downs
1 (23). Central Florida EDGE Malachi Lawrence
3 (92). Michigan EDGE Jaishawn Barham
4 (112). Penn State OT Drew Shelton
4 (114). Florida CB Devin Moore
4 (137). Alabama DL LT Overton
7 (218). East Carolina WR Anthony Smith
Overview: DT Quinnen Williams is technically a part of this haul, although acquiring him cost Dallas this year’s 44th selection and next year’s first-round pick. WR George Pickens boosts the Cowboys’ grade; the Jones family stole him from Pittsburgh for this year’s third-rounder (No. 76). Dallas sent Miami two fifth-round picks (177 and 180) to climb just one first-round slot for Downs, although securing 2025’s Thorpe Award winner knocked out a huge need with an elite prospect. Lawrence profiles as a one-trick outside rusher. Barham is a plus special teamer but lacks a defined defensive position. Shelton should get a shot to unseat underwhelming Terence Steele at right tackle. Last year’s Cowboys allowed a league-high 30.1 points per game. They needed to hammer their defense, and they did.
Grade: B
Detroit Lions
1 (17). Clemson OT Blake Miller
2 (44). Michigan EDGE Derrick Moore
4 (118). Michigan LB Jimmy Rolder
5 (157). Arizona State CB Keith Abney
5 (168). Kentucky WR Kendrick Law
6 (205). Texas Tech DT Skyler Gill-Howard
7 (222). Tennessee EDGE Tyre West
Overview: The Lions struck out with their first-round pick, begging to trade up with teams ahead of them for Kadyn Proctor, only to settle for light-in-the-pants right tackle-only Miller. Devoid of power, Miller is an odd fit for a Dan Campbell offensive line. To climb six slots for JAG prospect Moore, GM Brad Holmes coughed up the 128th pick to the Jets. Detroit didn’t have a third-rounder after trading it last year to Jacksonville to select Isaac TeSlaa. Rolder is another JAG type with the ceiling of a low-end NFL starter. Abney does fit the Lions’ mold as a physical potential overachiever. Ultimately, I don’t see reasons to be thrilled about this class. And if you fed them truth serum, I don’t think Holmes and Campbell would be, either.
Grade: D
Green Bay Packers
2 (52). South Carolina CB Brandon Cisse
3 (77). Missouri DT Chris McClellan
4 (120). Penn State EDGE Dani Dennis-Sutton
5 (153). Kentucky C Jager Burton
6 (201). Alabama CB Domani Jackson
6 (216). Florida K Trey Smack
Overview: The Packers didn’t have a first-round pick after sending what turned out to be the 20th selection to Dallas in last year’s Micah Parsons deal. (Parsons is technically part of this draft haul.) A freak athlete with pro-ready cover skills, Cisse should earn a starting job quickly opposite Keisean Nixon. In a trade with Tampa, Green Bay gave up the 160th overall pick to climb seven third-round slots for McClellan, a rotational interior defensive lineman. Dennis-Sutton fell for character and medical concerns; he piled up 23.5 sacks and seven forced fumbles across four seasons at Penn State and was well worth a fourth-round risk.
Grade: B
Los Angeles Rams
1 (13). Alabama QB Ty Simpson
2 (61). Ohio State TE Max Klare
3 (93). Missouri OT Keagen Trost
6 (197). Miami (FL) WR C.J. Daniels
7 (232). Alabama DT Tim Keenan
Overview: Perhaps driven by cronyism and nepotism because GM Les Snead is tight with Ty’s father, the Rams’ selection of Simpson was egregious with Makai Lemon, Kenyon Sadiq, and a host of needed offensive linemen available at 13. It’s the kind of pick that could create a severe organizational rift. From there, Klare and Trost felt like concessions from Snead to an obviously miffed McVay. Two-time All-Pro CB Trent McDuffie is part of this haul after the Rams acquired him from the Chiefs for the 29th overall pick. Still, the Rams blew the 13th overall pick so obviously that there is only one way to grade this draft.
Grade: F
Minnesota Vikings
1 (18). Florida DT Caleb Banks
2 (51). Cincinnati LB Jake Golday
3 (82). Iowa State DT Domonique Orange
3 (97). Northwestern OT Caleb Tiernan
3 (98). Miami (FL) S Jakobe Thomas
5 (159). Michigan FB Max Bredeson
5 (163). Stephen F. Austin CB Charles Demmings
6 (198). Wake Forest RB Demond Claiborne
7 (235). Cincinnati C Gavin Gerhardt
Overview: Literally and figuratively, the Vikings took a huge swing by selecting medically-flagged Banks at No. 18. Most expected Banks to last until Round 2. Highly productive, athletic, and built like old Vikings LB Chad Greenway, Golday looks capable of becoming an every-down linebacker. Orange is a 322-pound space eater. Tiernan stands 6-foot-8, 323, but has short arms (32 1/4 inches) and small hands (9.0 inches), profiling as a right tackle only. Sixth-round sleeper Claiborne is a dangerous space back and kickoff returner. This shapes up as a boom-bust draft haul because of Minnesota’s surprising first-round investment in Banks.
Grade: C+
New Orleans Saints
1 (8). Arizona State WR Jordyn Tyson
2 (42). Georgia DT Christen Miller
3 (73). Georgia TE Oscar Delp
4 (132). Auburn OG Jeremiah Wright
4 (136). North Dakota State WR Bryce Lance
5 (172). Ohio State S Lorenzo Styles
6 (190). LSU WR Barion Brown
7 (219). Iowa CB T.J. Hall
Overview: The Saints are understandably all in on Tyler Shough following his fast 2025 finish. Tyson’s durability is a well-documented concern, but he was the most talented wideout in this class, conjuring some similarities to Justin Jefferson. Miller is a space-eating nose tackle at 6-foot-4, 325. Delp melts facemasks as a blocker and runs 4.49. Lance ran 4.39 with a 41-inch vertical at 6-foot-4, 206. Styles is a converted wide receiver with 4.27 speed at 6-foot-1, 194. EDGE Tyree Wilson is part of this haul after the Saints acquired him from the Raiders for a fifth-round (No. 150) pick. The Saints’ roster got notably more athletic with these additions. They have a chance to field a top-eight offense in 2026.
Grade: B+
New York Giants
1 (5). Ohio State LB Arvell Reese
1 (10). Miami (FL) T/G Francis Mauigoa
2 (37). Tennessee CB Colton Hood
3 (74). Notre Dame WR Malachi Fields
6 (186). Auburn DT Bobby Jamison-Travis
6 (192). Illinois OT J.C. Davis
6 (193). BYU LB Jack Kelly
Overview: Reese — who very arguably should’ve gone to the Jets at No. 2 — was a steal at No. 5, and profiles as John Harbaugh’s new Roquan Smith with more pass-rush upside. A back injury caused Mauigoa’s mini-slide, but he will be a beastly right guard in New York, which at long last has a chance to field a legitimately quality offensive line. Hood is a plus athlete with press-man cover skills. He projects as a high-end No. 2 corner. The Giants wanted Fields enough to send Cleveland three picks for No. 74; fourth- and fifth-round selections this year, plus a fourth-rounder in 2027. I think the G-Men drafted at least three early-career starters, and Fields could make it four. The Harbaugh Era is off to a hot start.
Grade: A-
Philadelphia Eagles
1 (20). USC WR Makai Lemon
2 (54). Vanderbilt TE Eli Stowers
3 (68). Miami (FL) OT Markel Bell
5 (178). North Dakota State QB Cole Payton
6 (207). Georgia OG Micah Morris
7 (244). Texas Tech S Cole Wisniewski
7 (251). Nigeria DT Uar Bernard
7 (252). New Mexico EDGE Keyshawn James-Newby
Overview: WR Dontayvion Wicks is part of this haul after the Eagles acquired him from Green Bay for its fifth-round pick (No. 153). As is EDGE Jonathan Greenard, who tallied 27.5 sacks over the past three seasons and arrived for two third-rounders. GM Howie Roseman — being the wizard he is — began his ‘26 selections with 2025’s Biletnikoff (Lemon) and Mackey (Stowers) Award winners. At 6-foot-9, 346, Bell is a modern Andre The Giant. The Eagles love colossal offensive tackles. Payton is big, highly athletic, and can throw the ball downfield. He’s the perfect developmental quarterback project. Howie always cooks.
Grade: A
San Francisco 49ers
2 (33). Mississippi WR De’Zhaun Stribling
3 (70). Texas Tech EDGE Romello Height
3 (90). Indiana RB Kaelon Black
4 (107). Oklahoma DT Gracen Halton
4 (127). Washington OT Carver Willis
4 (139). Washington CB Ephesians Prysock
5 (154). Louisiana LB Jaden Dugger
5 (179). Kansas OT Enrique Cruz
Overview: DT Osa Odighizuwa is part of this haul after the Niners got him from Dallas for this year’s 92nd pick. DE Keion White came from New England for San Francisco’s sixth-rounder. A long-striding, buildup-speed X receiver, Stribling is a strange fit with Kyle Shanahan after never delivering elite production across five college seasons. The 49ers seem to envision Stribling as a Jauan Jennings type. Height (6-foot-3, 238) is an undersized designated pass rusher. Black is a replacement-level athlete who was a pedestrian running back in college. Halton is a rotational, gap-shooting three technique. In Willis and Cruz, I like that San Francisco took multiple shots on developmental offensive tackles. This was still an unexciting draft by a team with noticeable needs. The 49ers could have done better.
Grade: C-
Seattle Seahawks
1 (32). Notre Dame RB Jadarian Price
2 (64). TCU S Bud Clark
3 (99). Arkansas CB Julian Neal
5 (148). Iowa OG Beau Stephens
6 (199). Kansas WR Emmanuel Henderson
7 (236). Toledo CB Andre Fuller
7 (242). Minnesota DT Deven Eastern
7 (255). Arizona CB Michael Dansby
Overview: WR/KR Rashid Shaheed, who played a huge role in 2025’s Super Bowl run, counts toward Seattle’s grade after GM John Schneider acquired Shaheed from New Orleans last October for fourth- and fifth-round picks. Price theoretically solves the Seahawks’ running back need from Kenneth Walker III’s departure, while Clark is a ballhawk after intercepting 15 passes in college. The Seahawks are betting on Neal’s combination of size (6-foot-2, 203) and freaky athleticism over a largely nondescript college résumé. Stephens was a three-year starting guard at Iowa, and Hawkeyes offensive linemen tend to be quality bets. Schneider entered this draft with only four picks. He exited with an above-par class.
Grade: B-
Tampa Bay Bucs
1 (15). Miami (FL) EDGE Rueben Bain Jr.
2 (46). Missouri LB Josiah Trotter
3 (84). Georgia State WR Ted Hurst
4 (116). Miami (FL) CB Keionte Scott
5 (155). Clemson DT DeMonte Capehart
5 (160). Notre Dame OG Billy Schrauth
6 (185). LSU TE Bauer Sharp
Overview: GM Jason Licht unwrapped a gift when relentless and versatile pass rusher Bain fell into Tampa’s lap at 15. Jeremiah Trotter’s son, Josiah, will likely start immediately at inside linebacker next to Alex Anzalone. The Bucs added pick No. 160 to drop seven third-round slots in a deal with Green Bay and select size-speed small-school specimen Hurst, who made a name for himself at the Senior Bowl. A dynamic punt returner with 4.36 speed, Scott doubles as a feisty slot corner. The Bucs got tangibly better with this draft haul.
Grade: B+
Washington Commanders
1 (7). Ohio State LB Sonny Styles
3 (71). Clemson WR Antonio Williams
5 (147). Tennessee EDGE Joshua Josephs
6 (187). Penn State RB Kaytron Allen
6 (209). Michigan State C Matt Gulbin
7 (223). Rutgers QB Athan Kaliakmanis
Overview: The Commanders didn’t have second- or fourth-round picks after sending what turned out to be the Nos. 38 and 106 selections to Houston in the LT Laremy Tunsil deal. GM Adam Peters, formerly of San Francisco’s front office, tabbed middle-of-the-field pterodactyl Styles to be Washington’s version of Fred Warner. Williams is a high-floor, low-ceiling slot-type receiver. Only 243 pounds but long-armed (34 1/4 inches) and plenty athletic, Josephs profiles as a designated pass rusher at worst and was a value pick in Round 5. Allen is a poor man’s David Montgomery as a fundamentally sound jack of many trades, but he lacks home-run ability. Washington’s means in this draft were limited by the Tunsil trade, but Peters came away with an elite talent in Styles and three more possible contributors.
Grade: B-
