With the 2026 NFL Draft in the books, we’re ready to check the work of all 32 teams.

The good news for the teams who paid the price to pick early in this year’s draft is many of them made of the most of the opportunity.

Our analysts break down the work of every team’s front office and assign a letter grade with rapid reaction to the draft class of every club.

As always with assessments based on projections of evolving talent and schemes, the curve can be steep. It typically takes at least two full seasons to grasp the why behind these selections, and not all planted seeds bear fruit.

Arizona Cardinals

Grade: B-

The selection of RB Jeremiyah Love (Notre Dame) at No. 3 inspires hand-wringing given the history of teams finding backs later in the draft. Our top need for Arizona was a quarterback, but none were worth the No. 3 pick with Fernando Mendoza gone. The No. 2 need was pass rusher. The only proven high-end edge in this draft was Texas Tech’s David Bailey, who went off the board one spot ahead of Love. We don’t argue the talent as a big-play running back but the wisdom of making the pick with offers to move back and fill multiple needs.

Atlanta Falcons

Grade: B+

With no first-round pick due to the 2025 draft-day trade to acquire pass rusher James Pearce Jr., the Falcons were able to find value with cornerback Avieon Terrell (Clemson) at No. 48 overall and electric Georgia WR Zachariah Branch (4.36 40) in the third round.

Baltimore Ravens

Grade: A-

There wasn’t an easier assignment to make pre-draft than the O-line hungry Ravens and Penn State’s Olaivavega Ioane with the 14th overall pick. Second-rounder Zion Young (Missouri) is a player we thought Dallas might reach for earlier in the draft. He has all the tools to make an instant impact opposite Trey Hendrickson.

Buffalo Bills

Grade: B

Trading back served the Bills well. The picks that stand out today as stellar values are fifth-rounders — safety Jalon Kilgore (South Carolina) and DT Zane Durant (Penn State) — but the first two are likely to have the most immediate impact in No. 35 pick T.J. Parker, an edge rusher from Clemson, and 62nd pick Davison Igbinosun, a cornerback from Ohio State).

Carolina Panthers

Grade: B-

There would have been a serious shot at top-10 grades if OT Monroe Freeling had gone back to Georgia for his senior season. He’s a great pick at No. 19 and No. 49 pick Lee Hunter (Texas Tech) could be the ideal prospect at nose tackle because of his enormous frame and light feet. There is not a wide receiver around with more enticing size, ability and speed in combination than Tennessee’s Chris Brazzell II, the 83rd overall pick.

Chicago Bears

Grade: B-

Kudos to the Bears for the fortune of being in position to draft safety Dillon Thieneman 25th overall. The Oregon product can do a lot to stabilize a shaky secondary. Iowa C Logan Jones (57th) helps recalibrate the front five behind Garrett Bradbury, but if he’s not a starter, why not swing for a bigger need such as pass rusher?

Cincinnati Bengals

Grade: B+

If not for his decline in production last season with the Giants, we’d feel better about sacrificing the No. 10 pick to New York for nose tackle Dexter Lawrence. If he comes in motivated and one of the Bengals’ top picks learns to fly — No. 41 overall pick Cashius Howell is all energy but lacks perfect size — this looks a lot better.

Cleveland Browns

Grade: A-

Based on Field Level Media analysis of the prospects Andrew Berry called to welcome to Cleveland, the Browns’ draft is another home run. The first-round selection of offensive tackle Spencer Fano (Utah) and wide receiver KC Concepcion (Texas A&M) was only the start of a gold-star weekend for the Browns. No. 39 pick Denzel Boston (Washington) is a borderline No. 1 receiver most expected to be in the top 30 picks, and safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (Toledo) went 58th, about 40 spots lower than we projected based on his value and versatility.

Dallas Cowboys

Grade: A

Ohio State safety Caleb Downs was one of the six “undisputed” blue-chip prospects by our count and Dallas was wise to sacrifice a couple mid-round picks to draft the versatile playmaker. We can’t argue with the traits of edge Malachi Lawrence (UCF). He’s not a ready-made pass rusher. We do expect him to win consistently. Acquiring LB Dee Winters (49ers) for a fifth-round pick and selecting Michigan edge Jaishawn Barham gives the Cowboys the makings of a seriously strong defense.

Denver Broncos

Grade: C+

A proven commodity in Jaylen Waddle is better than the Broncos would have been able to do with the 30th overall pick traded to the Dolphins.

Detroit Lions

Grade: B

Offensive tackle Blake Miller (Clemson) is a turnkey starter to replace Taylor Decker, and edge Derrick Moore (Michigan) was an on-brand selection in the second round.

Green Bay Packers

Grade: B

This year’s top pick — and the 2027 selection in the first round — went to Dallas in the Micah Parsons deal. Parsons flashed Defensive Player of the Year production before a season-ending injury at Denver. As he works his way back, the Packers should be a legitimate contender. South Carolina CB Brandon Cisse (52nd overall) was worthy of first-round attention.

Houston Texans

Grade: C

Question that pick of OG Keylan Rutledge (Georgia Tech) in the first round? We do, too. Not because Rutledge was an unreasonable pick. But there was no queue forming to take him — or any interior offensive lineman — at this point in the draft and trading up to get him was an overpay. GM Nick Caserio did acquit himself nicely in the second round, adding Ohio State NT Kayden McDonald.

Indianapolis Colts

Grade: C

Sauce Gardner said himself, he’s the first-rounder for the Colts in 2026. Acquired at the trade deadline last season, Gardner’s season imploded due to a calf injury. Will he be back in 2026 to the All-Pro cover corner he was in 2022 and 2023?

Jacksonville Jaguars

Grade: C-

There wasn’t a lot of wow in the Jaguars’ draft, especially after the move up to take Travis Hunter second overall in 2025. When you weigh the cost of the 2026 first-rounder against Hunter’s value to the franchise so far, this is a dud.

Kansas City Chiefs

Grade: A

Doubt Andy Reid at your own peril. We’re flag-waving fans of the move up to snag LSU CB Mansoor Delane at No. 6, and 29th pick DT Peter Woods (Clemson) has top-15 talent and tools. Edge R Mason Thomas has the chance to be a huge hit in this defense.

Las Vegas Raiders

Grade: A

QB Fernando Mendoza (Indiana) was the no-brainer No. 1 pick but less-heralded picks could be the difference in the franchise’s turnaround. Multi-positional OL Trey Zuhn III and CB Jermod McCoy — a first-round talent who missed last season because of a January 2025 ACL injury — at pick No 101 are the type of selections that build a foundation for a turnaround if they click.

Los Angeles Chargers

Grade: B-

Edge Akheem Mesidor (Miami) can breathe new life into the Chargers’ pass rush. Odafe Oweh is gone and Khalil Mack is closing in on retirement. The best work was done later in the draft, particularly with their four picks invested in the offensive line.

Los Angeles Rams

Grade: D+

We don’t like to fail anyone around here. The Rams went with QB Ty Simpson from Alabama at a point where at least three consensus first-round level players were still on the board. Simpson’s grade was closer to No. 44 overall, and our reaction was pretty similar to Sean McVay’s. But if you look at this as a “bonus pick” and view offseason trade acquisition Trent McDuffie as the first-round score, we can understand those who are applauding GM Les Snead for the overreach.

Miami Dolphins

Grade: C

This draft was always going to be about volume for the Dolphins, who exited the first round with two likely starters who could just as easily be first-year projects: 12th pick OT Kadyn Proctor (Alabama) and 27th overall pick CB Chris Johnson (San Diego State). LB Jacob Rodriguez (Texas Tech) has the makings of a second-round gem. Nobody had WR Caleb Douglas anywhere near the top 100 when the Red Raiders’ wideout was selected 75th overall.

Minnesota Vikings

Grade: C-

We stand to be corrected on the investment of the 18th pick in the draft on massive Florida DL Caleb Banks, but the Vikings could’ve moved back or found a reasonable facsimile in the second or third round. We’re fully on board with second-round LB Jake Golday (Cincinnati) and big fans of fourth-round pick Jakobe Thomas (Miami).

New England Patriots

Grade: C+

The 28th pick in the draft was Utah OT Caleb Lomu, who is flexible and has guard experience. GM Eliot Wolf moved up in the draft for Lomu and then traded to get Gabe Jacas (Illinois) in the second round.

New Orleans Saints

Grade: B

Maybe Arizona State WR Jordyn Tyson proves us wrong and he’s the perfect fit. But at No. 8 overall, Tyson still feels like a risk considering his durability concerns and the similar knock on current Saints No. 1 WR Chris Olave. Georgia TE Oscar Delp stands out of a potential steal in the third round.

New York Giants

Grade: A-

Most believed Arvell Reese of Ohio State would be long gone before the No. 5 pick, where the Giants landed him, five picks before selecting Francis Mauigoa, a powerful tackle at Miami. Based solely on upside and fit, the Giants aced the first round. As the draft chugged along, we kept waiting for anything close to a replacement for DT Dexter Lawrence — traded to the Bengals for the No. 10 pick last week — to be on the radar.

New York Jets

Grade: A

Jets GM Darren Mougey came away with three potential Pro Bowl players in the first round. It’s a haul the franchise can celebrate knowing there are more premium picks coming next season. Edge David Bailey of Texas Tech was the best pure pass rusher in the draft; TE Kenyon Sadiq (Oregon) is the only elite player at his position in the draft and we liked Omar Cooper Jr. (Indiana), the 30th pick overall, as much or more than a few of the receivers drafted in the first half of the round. Cooper’s Hoosiers teammate D’Angelo Ponds is a speed merchant with a nose for the ball and represents a serious value as the 50th overall pick.

Philadelphia Eagles

Grade: B

We’re not in position to sling arrows at Howie Roseman’s roster-building technique, but moving up for a slot receiver — Makai Lemon — in the first round was more difficult to understand with multiple talented receivers still available late in the first round.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Grade: C-

Round of applause for landing one of the best finishers in the draft class, Arizona State OT Max Iheanachor. Since we don’t have anything nice to say about the QB pick, we’re not going to say anything at all on the Drew Allar selection. Fine, we will. Tools are there. Upside is really difficult to see unless the plan is to park him for two years and hope it all comes together.

San Francisco 49ers

Grade: B-

After multiple trades back, the 49ers stood pat with the first pick in the second round and selected Ole Miss WR De’Zhaun Stribling. He’s a big-bodied receiver to pair with Mike Evans, signed in free agency, and 2025 first-rounder Ricky Pearsall.

Seattle Seahawks

B

Leave it to GM John Schneider to pump his tried and true approach of trading out of the first round in the buildup to the draft only to confiscate our No. 2-ranked ballcarrier, Notre Dame RB Jadarian Price with the final pick in the first round. Price can be the Kenneth Walker III replacement immediately if necessary.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Grade: A

All the Warren Sapp feels around the selection of falling edge Rueben Bain Jr. (Miami) at No. 15 sparked a run of winning selections. Missouri LB Josiah Trotter (46th) and Bain’s college teammates, CB Keionte Scott (116th), enter the NFL with starter-plus ability.

Tennessee Titans

Grade: A-

Suddenly QB Cam Ward, the No. 1 pick in the 2025 draft, has an arsenal of weapons. Round 1 picks WR Carnell Tate from Ohio State (No. 4) and 31st overall pick, edge Keldric Faulk of Auburn, are tempo-setters and check boxes at need positions.

Washington Commanders

Grade: B

Most felt Ohio State LB Sonny Styles (No. 7) was a top-five talent after his NFL Scouting Combine showcase. In the heart of every great Dan Quinn defense there is a linebacker with coach-on-the-field tendencies. Clemson slot WR Antonio Williams (No. 71) is better than advertised.

–Field Level Media

Garrett Crochet pitched six shutout innings and Andruw Monasterio drilled a late-game grand slam as the Boston Red Sox snapped a four-game losing streak in dominant fashion with a 17-1 win over the host Baltimore Orioles Saturday afternoon.

Later on Saturday, the Red Sox fired manager Alex Cora and five others on staff. Chad Tracy, the club’s manager at Triple-A Worcester since 2022, was named interim manager.

Caleb Durbin and Willson Contreras (five RBIs in the game) joined Monasterio with ninth-inning home runs as part of Boston’s 10-run blitz in the final inning. Connor Wong drilled a three-run double in the fifth inning. Monasterio and Ceddanne Rafaela had three hits apiece.

The Orioles, who racked up 20 hits on Friday night, had one hit through five innings Saturday. Taylor Ward had two of Baltimore’s six hits.

Dodgers 12, Cubs 4

Max Muncy hit a two-run home run and Andy Pages had three RBIs as host Los Angeles snapped Chicago’s 10-game winning streak thanks in large part to a six-run fourth inning.

Teoscar Hernandez had two hits and two RBIs, Alex Freeland had two doubles, a run and an RBI, and Hyeseong Kim had two hits, a run and an RBI for the Dodgers.

Seiya Suzuki, Moises Ballesteros and Miguel Amaya hit solo home runs for Chicago. Suzuki also had a three-hit game.

Phillies 8, Braves 5 (10 innings)

Bryce Harper’s bases-loaded single in the 10th inning drove in two runs and sparked visiting Philadelphia to a win over Atlanta to end its 10-game losing streak.

Harper was 2-for-3 with four RBIs. Philadelphia right-hander Zack Wheeler made his first appearance since Aug. 15 of last year after missing time due to undergoing surgery to treat thoracic outlet syndrome. He pitched five innings and allowed two runs on three hits.

Atlanta right-hander Bryce Elder pitched seven innings, matching his season high, and allowed three runs on six hits.

Nationals 6, White Sox 3 (10 innings)

Nasim Nunez had a pair of two-run singles, one of which capped off a breakout 10th inning to help Washington come away with a victory over host Chicago.

Nunez finished with four of Washington’s five RBIs, nearly doubling his total of six RBIs he had in his first 24 games this season. Cionel Perez (2-3) worked around two walks for a scoreless ninth inning and Brad Lord pitched the 10th for the Nationals, who snapped a three-game losing streak despite stranding 10 runners on base.

Only the automatic runner scored in the 10th for Chicago, which had won four of five. Miguel Vargas had a double and a pair of walks for the White Sox, who were 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position and stranded 12 runners.

Yankees 6, Astros 3

Austin Wells socked a leadoff home run to ignite a three-run seventh inning as New York claimed a three-game series against host Houston.

Wells’ second homer was the third of the game for the Yankees, who improved to 5-0 on their current nine-game road trip and have won eight straight overall. The Yankees were locked in a pitcher’s duel before Wells snapped a 2-2 tie by driving an inside fastball from Astros reliever Kai-Wei Teng (1-1) out to right field.

Astros starter Mike Burrows matched his career high of eight strikeouts while working five innings. Burrows surrendered a solo home run to Grisham, his fourth on the season, with one out in the third inning that enabled the Yankees to erase a 1-0 deficit.

Blue Jays 5, Guardians 3

Kevin Gausman pitched an effective 6 2/3 innings, Kazuma Okamoto homered and Toronto beat visiting Cleveland.

Gausman (2-1) allowed two runs, six hits and no walks with three strikeouts. Louis Varland allowed one run on two singles and a double in the ninth to pick up his second save. Andres Gimenez keyed a three-run sixth with a two-run double to help the Blue Jays gain a split of the first two games of the three-game series.

David Fry hit a solo homer for the Guardians. Joey Cantillo (1-1) allowed three runs and six hits in five-plus innings.

Mariners 11, Cardinals 9

Leo Rivas’ tie-breaking, two-run single in the ninth inning propelled Seattle to a victory over host St. Louis.

Julio Rodriguez, Will Wilson and Cole Young homered for the Mariners, who posted their third straight victory and sent the Cardinals to their third loss in a row, overcoming a poor start from Bryan Woo, who allowed seven runs on nine hits in three innings.

For St. Louis, Nathan Church hit two home runs and JJ Wetherholt, Ivan Herrera and Pedro Pages also went deep. The Cardinals took a 9-7 lead into the eighth before Connor Joe’s pinch-hit two-run single tied the game.

Giants 6, Marlins 2

Casey Schmitt hit a two-run homer, Drew Gilbert and Heliot Ramos added solo shots, and San Francisco evened its three-game home series against Miami at a game apiece.

Robbie Ray combined with four relievers on a six-hitter, lifting the Giants to their first home win over the Marlins since August of 2024. Miami had won six straight in San Francisco, including 9-4 in the series opener Friday night.

Schmitt, Ramos, Jung Hoo Lee and Luis Arraez had two hits apiece for the Giants, who out-hit the Marlins 11-6 en route to snapping a two-game losing streak. Xavier Edwards and Agustin Ramirez collected two hits each for Miami.

Rays 6, Twins 1

Jake Fraley hit a two-run homer and Ben Williamson went 3-for-4 with a triple, double and two RBIs to power Tampa Bay Rays to a victory over slumping Minnesota in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Junior Caminero extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a single and Yandy Diaz scored two runs for Tampa Bay, which extended its winning streak to three games. Shane McClanahan (2-2) allowed three hits over five shutout innings.

Byron Buxton had two hits for Minnesota, which took its fourth straight loss and eighth in the past nine games. Bailey Ober (2-1) allowed two runs on three hits over six innings.

Rangers 4, Athletics 3

Josh Jung hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the sixth inning as Texas beat the Athletics in Arlington, Texas.

Corey Seager had two hits and an RBI for Texas, which rallied from a 3-0 hole to level the series and set up a Sunday rubber match. Rangers starter MacKenzie Gore allowed three runs on six hits over five innings. Cole Winn (2-1), Jalen Beeks and Jakob Junis each pitched a scoreless inning before left-hander Jacob Latz retired the Athletics in order in the ninth for his first save.

Shea Langeliers and Jacob Wilson had two hits apiece for the Athletics, who lost despite out-hitting the Rangers 7-5. The Athletics saw Jeffrey Springs (3-2) give up four runs on five hits over six innings.

Padres 6, Diamondbacks 4

Ty France hit two bases-empty homers, Mason Miller recorded his major league-leading 10th save, and San Diego beat Arizona in the Mexico City Series at Estadio Alfredo Harp Helu.

Miller has not allowed a run in 14 1/3 innings this season, and he extended his scoreless streak to a franchise-record 34 2/3 innings. France hit his second and third homers of the season and Gavin Sheets had a two-run single in a four-run seventh for the Padres, who overcame an early 4-0 deficit. They have won 13 of 15.

Alek Thomas homered in a four-run second inning, his second homer in three games, for the Diamondbacks, who are the designated home team in the two-game series. They have lost four of five. Arizona infielder Ildemaro Vargas extended his season-opening hitting streak to 19 games, the longest active streak in the majors. Vargas has a 22-game hitting streak dating to 2025.

Royals 12, Angels 1

Salvador Perez had three hits including a home run, Cole Ragans pitched six strong innings and Kansas City routed visiting Los Angeles.

Nick Loftin had two hits and drove in four runs for the Royals, who have won three of four. Ragans (1-4) allowed a run on five hits and struck out 11 batters without a walk. It was the third time this season he went six innings and allowed one run or less.

Jo Adell homered and Vaughn Grissom had three hits for the Angels, who have lost six of seven. Walbert Urena (0-3) lasted 3 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on six hits. Los Angeles pitchers issued 10 walks, including two with the bases loaded.

Pirates 6, Brewers 3 (10 innings)

Bryan Reynolds singled in the go-ahead run to trigger a three-run 10th inning and lift Pittsburgh to victory and hand host Milwaukee its fourth consecutive loss.

Left-hander Angel Zerpa (0-2) started the 10th for the Brewers. Pinch hitter Marcell Ozuna drew a one-out walk. Nick Yorke ran for Ozuna and Reynolds singled to left, scoring automatic runner Henry Davis from second. Both runners advanced on a groundout. Grant Anderson relieved Zerpa, and Nick Gonzales delivered an RBI single to left, with Reynolds continuing home on a bobble by left fielder Greg Jones.

Yohan Ramirez kept Milwaukee off the board in the 10th for his first save. Gregory Soto (2-0) delivered a scoreless ninth. Brewers starter Jacob Misiorowski struck out nine in six innings, allowing three runs on six hits.

Reds 9, Tigers 2

Sal Stewart homered and drove in five runs to help host Cincinnati clinch a series win over Detroit.

Brady Singer (2-1) allowed two runs on eight hits across 5 1/3 innings for the Reds, who have won nine of their last 11 games. Singer struck out three and TJ Friedl went 3-for-4 with a solo home run, as Cincinnati scored nine runs for the second straight day.

Jack Flaherty (0-2) lasted just two innings for the Tigers, yielding six runs on five hits. Spencer Torkelson homered in his fourth straight game for Detroit, which has dropped four of its last six.

–Field Level Media

BetBoom Team downed Aurora Gaming 2-1 on Saturday to advance to the grand final of the PGL Wallachia Season 8 event at Bucharest, Romania.

Aurora Gaming could earn a rematch in Sunday’s grand final if they can defeat Team Falcons in the lower-bracket final earlier in the day.

Sixteen teams began the $1 million Dota 2 tournament with the top eight advancing from the Swiss-system group stage. The double-elimination playoffs continue with all matches best-of-three until the best-of-five grand final on Sunday. The winning side will take home $300,000.

On Saturday, BetBoom Team opened the upper-bracket final with a marathon 82-minute victory on red, then Aurora Gaming drew level with a win in 40 minutes on red, before BetBoom emerged with a 37-minute win on green.

Russian Danil “gpk” Skutin paced BetBoom with a 32-7-44 kill-death-assist ratio over three games.

Team Liquid swept the South America Rejects in one lower-bracket quarterfinal, winning in 38 minutes on green and 49 minutes on red.

Poland’s Michal “Nisha” Jankowski led Team Liquid with a 22-6-28 K-D-A ratio.

In the other lower-bracket quarterfinal, Team Falcons swept PARIVISION by winning in 45 minutes on red and 43 minutes on green.

Jordan’s Ammar “ATF” Al-Assaf paced Team Falcons with a 21-11-17 K-D-A ratio.

Team Falcons outlasted Team Liquid 2-1 in the lower-bracket semifinals. The Falcons won the opener in 53 minutes on green, Liquid drew even in 38 minutes on green and Team Falcons won a 74-minute battle on green in the deciding faceoff.

Oliver “skiter” Lepko of Slovakia helped Team Falcons’ cause with a 30-9-35 K-D-A ratio.

Sunday’s schedule

Lower-bracket final — Team Falcons vs. Aurora Gaming

Grand final — BetBoom Team vs. lower-bracket final winner

PGL Wallachia Season 8 prize pool

1. $300,000 — TBD

2. $175,000 — TBD

3. $120,000 — TBD

4. $80,000 — Team Liquid

5-6. $60,000 — South America Rejects, PARIVISION

7-8. $40,000 — HEROIC, Team Spirit

9-11. $20,000 — GamerLegion, Xtreme Gaming, MOUZ

12-14. $15,000 — Vici Gaming, Virtus.pro, Natus Vincere

15-16. $10,000 — Team Yandex, Tundra Esports

–Field Level Media