NFL Draft Grades 2026: Grading All 32 Teams After the Draft

Subscribe to the Sharp Football Email Newsletter to receive all our 2026 NFL content:

Subscribe to our newsletter:

Leave this field empty if you're human:

 

The 2026 NFL draft is in the books, which means it's time to hand out grades.

I know some people roll their eyes at draft grades because we won't actually know how teams fared until a few years down the road, but here's my argument for why draft grades matter.

It's important to understand the initial impression of each class because it will inform our perception down the road.

Let's say Fernando Mendoza turns into a bust.

Does Raiders GM John Spytek deserve criticism for that selection?

Maybe a little, but it's likely each of the other 31 GMs would have made the same call in his shoes.

No matter what happens to Mendoza, that selection was the correct choice in the moment.

Now, let's say Jadarian Price is a bust.

Does John Schneider deserve criticism for desperately reaching for a running back few others would have gambled on in the first round?

Of course!

That was a decision very few others would have made in his shoes.

So if both Price and Mendoza are busts, the result is the same for each franchise, but we'll look at Spytek and Schneider very differently.

That's not to say my draft grades are perfect.

They're just one set of many grades worth looking at this week.

What is valuable is the collective perception of these draft classes, because these grades will inform our perception of what happened when we eventually look back on the draft years later.

So here is my letter grade for each franchise in addition to a few superlatives for each draft class.

2026 NFL Draft Grades: All 32 Teams

Pre-Order The Best Analytical 2026 Football Preview

Don't miss out on Warren Sharp's 500+ page preview of the 2026 NFL season.

The preview is unlike anything you have ever seen, featuring stunning visualizations built with the reader in mind.

This preview shares insights into players, coaches, teams, and philosophies with one goal in mind: to get you prepared for the 2026 NFL season by delivering the smartest information in the fastest, most direct way possible.

Pre-order the 2026 Football Preview now!

Explore all of our 2026 NFL Draft content:

2026 NFL Draft Grades: Team by Team Breakdown

Arizona Cardinals Draft Grade: D+

Instant impact: Jeremiyah Love, RB

Best value: None

Riskiest pick: Carson Beck, QB

Just like his former boss, Bill Belichick, Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort does not care about perceived value and will draft his guys even when it looks like a reach. As a result, he’s gotten limited production out of his non-first round picks, and this year looks poised to follow that trend. Spending an early third-round pick on Carson Beck, a likely career backup, was an egregious waste of draft capital. 

Atlanta Falcons Draft Grade: C

Instant impact: Avieon Terrell, CB

Best value: Terrell

Riskiest pick: Zachariah Branch, WR

I would give Atlanta a worse grade if Terry Fontenot were still calling the shots, but it’s not Ian Cunningham’s fault the team lost its first-round pick in the James Pearce trade last year. Terrell is a potential steal in the second round who could start immediately at nickel. Branch has some potential usefulness as a gadget weapon, but is redundant on a roster that has Olamide Zaccheaus.

Baltimore Ravens Draft Grade: B+

Instant impact: Vega Ioane, OG

Best value: Elijah Sarratt, WR

Riskiest pick: Ja’Kobi Lane, WR

The Ravens didn’t load up on great value selections at the same rate they often do, but this is still a strong class. Lane is the wildcard, as he has the talent to be a downfield weapon, but inconsistent hands and limited experience throughout the route tree set a low floor. 

Buffalo Bills Draft Grade: A

Instant impact: T.J. Parker, EDGE

Best value: Jalon Kilgore, CB

Riskiest pick: Davison Igbinosun, CB

It’s unclear if Buffalo added any immediate starters, but there weren’t a ton of holes to fill, and they added plenty of quality depth. Kilgore will have a chance to beat out Dee Alford and, at worst, should see reps in big nickel packages. Kaleb Elarms-Orr also looks like a fourth-round steal who could compete for a starting job at linebacker sooner rather than later. 

Carolina Panthers Draft Grade: B

Instant impact: Lee Hunter, DT

Best value: Sam Hecht, C

Riskiest pick: Chris Brazzell II, WR

There’s a wide range of potential outcomes for this draft class. Brazzell, Hunter, Hecht, Monroe Freeling, and Will Lee all have the traits to develop into starters. However, Dan Morgan targeted upside over proven production with almost every pick, setting a low floor for the group. 

Chicago Bears Draft Grade: B

Instant impact: Dillon Thieneman, S

Best value: Thieneman

Riskiest pick: Zavion Thomas, RS

The Bears may have landed two immediate starters in Thieneman and center Logan Jones. However, drafting a backup tight end (Sam Roush) and a return specialist (Thomas) in the third round was an unfortunate waste of draft capital. Thomas is blazing fast but offers nothing as a receiver.

Cincinnati Bengals Draft Grade: B+

Instant impact: Cashius Howell, EDGE

Best value: Connor Lew, C

Riskiest pick: Tacario Davis, CB

Drafting only two defensive players before the seventh round was an odd choice, but Cincinnati got plenty of talent and value with each selection. Davis is only considered a risk because 6-foot-4 defensive backs often don’t pan out, but he’s a ball hawk, and the value was reasonable in the late third round.

Cleveland Browns Draft Grade: B

Instant impact: Denzel Boston, WR

Best value: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S

Riskiest pick: KC Concepcion, WR

The success of this class hinges on Spencer Fano’s ability to develop into a quality left tackle. If he flops, Cleveland will regret passing over some defensive prospects who were close to sure-things. Boston and Concepcion could transform Cleveland’s passing attack, but Concepcion will have to prove he can consistently catch the football 

Dallas Cowboys Draft Grade: B+

Instant impact: Caleb Downs, S

Best value: Downs

Riskiest pick: Jaishawn Barham, LB/EDGE

Dallas will almost certainly feel good about this draft class for years to come due to the addition of Downs. But Downs and Malachi Lawrence will likely be the only major contributors. Barham made the switch from linebacker to edge last year and might be a ‘tweener. DC Christian Parker will need to get creative to make that pick work.

Denver Broncos Draft Grade: C-

Instant impact: None

Best value: Jonah Coleman, RB

Riskiest pick: Tyler Onyedim, DT

Expectations were low given the lack of draft capital, but Denver still came up short. Onyedim has some interesting traits, but never consistently produced in 33 collegiate starts. Coleman might find a role immediately, but he’s probably just an early-down running back. 

Detroit Lions Draft Grade: C+

Instant impact: Blake Miller, OT

Best value: Derrick Moore, EDGE

Riskiest pick: Miller

The Lions backed themselves into a corner and were forced to take an offensive lineman in the first round. That need, plus their desire to get back into contention, likely steered them towards Miller, who is experienced and polished but lacks the ideal upside of a traditional first-round pick. Other than Miller and Moore, Detroit probably didn’t add any meaningful contributors. 

Green Bay Packers Draft Grade: B+

Instant impact: Brandon Cisse, CB

Best value: Dani Dennis-Sutton, EDGE

Riskiest pick: Trey Smack, K

Cisse has a high ceiling as a ball-hawk in the secondary and will likely compete for a starting job immediately. Dennis-Sutton should also get on the field in sub-packages as a pass rusher. This was a solid class considering Green Bay didn’t have a first-round pick, but please stop drafting kickers.

Houston Texans Draft Grade: C

Instant impact: Keylan Rutledge, OG

Best value: Kamari Ramsey, S

Riskiest pick: Marlin Klein, TE

This looks like a draft class from 1998. Two guards, a nose tackle, and a developmental tight end through the first four rounds? Although most of the players will be useful in their roles, it just wasn’t a great use of draft capital to target all those positions. Kamari Ramsey looks like a steal, though, but he’ll have to make a living on special teams until a starting job opens up. 

Indianapolis Colts Draft Grade: A-

Instant impact: A.J. Haulcy, S

Best value: Jalen Farmer, OG

Riskiest pick: None

The Colts didn’t take any big swings but probably came away with three quality starters in Haulcy, Farmer, and CJ Allen. Even fourth-round pick Bryce Boettcher has starter potential, though the presence of Allen obviously limits his access to the field. 

Jacksonville Jaguars Draft Grade: F

Instant impact: Emmanuel Pregnon, OG

Best value: Pregnon

Riskiest pick: Nate Boerkicher TE, Albert Regis DT, Jalen Huskey DB

35-year-old GM James Gladstone has the arrogance of, well, a 35-year-old GM. Despite having four top 100 picks, Gladstone came away with only one player believed to be in that range in terms of value. Pregnon should push for an immediate starting job, but there’s little chance the Jaguars added another quality long-term starter in this group. 

Kansas City Chiefs Draft Grade: A

Instant impact: Mansoor Delane, CB

Best value: Jadon Canady, CB

Riskiest pick: Peter Woods, DT

The Chiefs may have added four starters, while also finding some quality depth pieces on Day 3. There’s some risk in the Woods selection, given his lack of development at Clemson, but he has an elite ceiling and hopefully learns better habits from Chris Jones. 

Las Vegas Raiders Draft Grade: A

Instant impact: Fernando Mendoza, QB

Best value: Jermod McCoy, CB

Riskiest pick: Mendoza

The Raiders added five players who could potentially be starters by the start of the 2027 season. And that doesn’t even include running back Mike Washington Jr, who has fascinating traits but is obviously blocked by Ashton Jeanty. In the end, however, all we’ll remember about this class is what happens to Mendoza, who has the tools to be a quality starter but a lower ceiling than the typical No. 1 overall pick. 

Los Angeles Chargers Draft Grade: C-

Instant impact: Jake Slaughter, G/C

Best value: None

Riskiest pick: Akheem Mesidor, EDGE

The Chargers likely plugged their hole at left guard with Slaughter. Mesidor adds some much-needed depth on the edge, but his lack of impact before his sixth-year senior performance is concerning. Even if Mesidor pans out, this class likely only adds two meaningful contributors to the roster.

Los Angeles Rams Draft Grade: F

Instant impact: None

Best value: CJ Daniels, WR

Riskiest pick: Ty Simpson, QB

The Rams are a strong Super Bowl contender, so of course Les Snead decided to spend his first two selections on a backup quarterback and a third-string tight end. It’s arguably the worst use of draft capital a contender has ever demonstrated on draft day. Simpson and tight end Max Klare might be starters by 2027, but the decision not to support the 2026 team is baffling. 

Miami Dolphins Draft Grade: A-

Instant impact: Chris Johnson, CB

Best value: Jacob Rodriguez, LB

Riskiest pick: Kadyn Proctor, OL

It would be hard to have a bad draft with 13 picks. Jacob Rodriguez will help rebuild the defense and should wear the green dot when he eventually takes a starting job. WR Chris Bell, EDGE Trey Moore, LB Kyle Louis, and S Michael Taaffe all have starting potential and came off the board in the third round or later. Drafting Proctor was a significant risk, though. He’s struggled to maintain his ideal weight, and now he joins an inexperienced coaching staff and a young roster lacking veteran leadership. 

Minnesota Vikings Draft Grade: B

Instant impact: Caleb Banks, DT

Best value: Caleb Tiernan, OT

Riskiest pick: Banks

I’ll give Brian Flores the benefit of the doubt and assume he and the Vikings have a vision here, but it’s a strange draft class. Drafting a nose tackle (Domonique Orange) and a traditional Sam linebacker (Jake Golday), two positions without much value in today’s game, is an odd strategy. Maybe they anticipate the continued trend towards more heavy offensive formations, leading to more traditional base defense usage? 

New England Patriots Draft Grade: C

Instant impact: Gabe Jacas, EDGE

Best value: Dametrious Crownover, OT

Riskiest pick: Caleb Lomu, OT

The Patriots didn’t get great value anywhere, but also didn’t make any extreme reaches. The selection of Lomu is odd because he profiles as a left tackle, where the team just drafted Will Campbell in 2025. Jacas might be the only rookie who sees significant action, as Lomu is blocked by Campbell and Morgan Moses this year. 

New Orleans Saints Draft Grade: B-

Instant impact: Jordyn Tyson, WR

Best value: Bryce Lance, WR

Riskiest pick: Christen Miller, DT

Mickey Loomis and Jeff Ireland know what they like, and Tyson is a prototypical Saints receiver who should fit into the offense immediately. Miller was a risky pick because he hasn’t flashed consistent pass-rush production. He’ll help against the run, but if he doesn’t develop his pass-rush skills, he’ll fall well short of expectations. 

New York Giants Draft Grade: B+

Instant impact: Francis Mauigoa, OL

Best value: Jack Kelly, LB

Riskiest pick: Arvell Reese, EDGE/LB

The success of this draft hinges on the development of Reese, a one-year starter who will likely be learning a new hybrid role in New York. He has an elite ceiling, but an inexperienced player learning a new position in the pros is inherently a bust risk.

New York Jets Draft Grade: A-

Instant impact: David Bailey, EDGE

Best value: VJ Payne, S

Riskiest pick: Omar Cooper Jr, WR

The Jets potentially added rookie starters with each of their first four selections. However, they also took some risks with Cooper and Kenyon Sadiq. Both players have exciting traits, but neither had the college production you might expect given their athleticism.  

Philadelphia Eagles Draft Grade: B

Instant impact: Makai Lemon, WR

Best value: Lemon

Riskiest pick: Markel Bell, OT

Lemon will pair with DeVonta Smith to give the Eagles an explosive duo at receiver, both of whom have the tools to line up in the slot or the outside. Eli Stowers also adds to the passing attack. He’ll be listed as a tight end, but it's best to think of him as an oversized slot receiver. Bell is extremely raw, but he lands in a good spot in Philly where he can learn behind the similarly-sized Jordan Mailata.

Pittsburgh Steelers Draft Grade: C+

Instant impact: Germie Bernard, WR

Best value: Eli Heidenreich, RB/WR

Riskiest pick: Max Iheanachor, OT

GM Omar Khan fumbled the team’s first-round pick, failing to realize he needed to trade up for Makai Lemon. Pivoting to an extremely raw developmental right tackle in Iheanachor only made the failure hurt more. Bernard is talented, though, and will be a solid third option behind DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr, but it’s still a drop off from what the team could have had in Lemon. 

San Francisco 49ers Draft Grade: B+

Instant impact: De’Zhaun Stribling, WR

Best value: Gracen Halton, DT

Riskiest pick: Kaelon Black, RB

Stribling was built in a lab for Kyle Shanahan’s offense and should step in immediately for Brandon Aiyuk (assuming he’s eventually traded or cut loose). Halton and Romello Height are explosive pass-rushers who add some athleticism to the defensive line. Black was a reach, a third-round mistake that has become a trend in San Francisco, which drags down the excitement for an otherwise strong class. 

Seattle Seahawks Draft Grade: B-

Instant impact: Jadarian Price, RB

Best value: Bud Clark, S

Riskiest pick: Price

John Schneider backed himself into a corner by failing to address the running back position in free agency. So he reached for Price, who will start immediately (due to Zach Charbonnet’s injury). Clark and Julian Neal will also compete for starting jobs in a rebuilt secondary.  

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Draft Grade: A-

Instant impact: Reuben Bain Jr, EDGE

Best value: Keionte Scott, CB

Riskiest pick: Josiah Trotter, LB

The Bucs needed pass rush help and lucked out when Bain fell into their lap. Trotter fills a need, but the downhill thumper is a throwback and might lack the ideal athletic traits to thrive in this era. Scott will have a chance to start immediately. Ted Hurst also has some potential as a big outside weapon and could replace some of Mike Evans’ targets.  

Tennessee Titans Draft Grade: A-

Instant impact: Carnell Tate, WR

Best value: Anthony Hill Jr, LB

Riskiest pick: Keldric Faulk, DL

Although we didn’t anticipate the Tate selection, it makes perfect sense to support Cam Ward with another downfield weapon. Hill is a well-rounded linebacker who likely will wear the green dot when he eventually steps into a starting role. Faulk has elite potential, but qualifies as a risk only because it’s unclear how well he’ll fit into Saleh’s defense. He lined up all over the Auburn defensive line, making him perfect for a multiple-front scheme, but that’s not typically Saleh’s style. 

Washington Commanders Draft Grade: C+

Instant impact: Sonny Styles, LB

Best value: Styles

Riskiest pick: Antonio Williams, WR

Styles is the perfect fit for Dan Quinn’s defense, but he might be the only starter Washington landed in this draft. Williams will contribute, but he’s an undersized possession slot receiver who lacks the explosive athletic traits to be a serious weapon 一 likely only a minor upgrade over Luke McCaffrey. 

Explore all of our 2026 NFL Draft content: