Rounding Up NFL Draft Grades 2026 from Top Experts' Scores for Each Team

The first three rounds of the 2026 NFL draft and there was plenty of reaction and analysis to go around.

The practice of grading draft picks is, of course, a flawed one. We won't know how good these draft classes truly are until a few years down the road when players are in the latter part of their rookie contract.

Still, experts from around the media landscape weigh in with grades because it is the easiest way to digest how teams did address needs and finding value on paper.

Let's take a look at what grades some of the top experts are handing out for all 32 teams across the league after two days.

NFL.com's Chad Reuter Day 1 Grades

AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar

Arizona Cardinals RB Jeremiyah Love

Arizona Cardinals: A

Atlanta Falcons: C

Baltimore Ravens: B+

Buffalo Bills: A

Carolina Panthers: A

Chicago Bears: A

Cincinnati Bengals: B

Cleveland Browns: A

Dallas Cowboys: B+

Denver Broncos: A

Detroit Lions: A

Green Bay Packers: B

Houston Texans: B

Indianapolis Colts: C

Jacksonville Jaguars: B

Kansas City Chiefs: B+

Las Vegas Raiders: A

Los Angeles Chargers: A

Los Angeles Rams: B+

Miami Dolphins: B

Minnesota Vikings: B+

New England Patriots: A-

New Orleans Saints: B

New York Giants: A

New York Jets: A-

Philadelphia Eagles: B

Pittsburgh Steelers: A

San Francisco 49ers: A

Seattle Seahawks: B

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: A

Tennessee Titans: B+

Washington Commanders: B

What makes Reuter's grades unique is that he even graded the teams that did not make a selection on Thursday night. He factors in the trades that teams made that left them without a pick.

From that perspective, it's interesting to note that the Broncos received an A for the deal that brought them Jaylen Waddle when no comparison for the receiver was available. However, the Falcons received a C for trading their pick away in last year's draft for James Pearce Jr.

The lowest grade that Reuter handed out for a team that actually took players was a B. Several teams received the grade including the Miami Dolphins, Houston Texans, Washington Commanders, Seattle Seahawks, New Orleans Saints and Philadelphia Eagles.

Picking Jeremiyah Love at 3 was a divisive selection in grade, but Reuter had no problem with it. He gave the Cards an A, focusing on the talent he'll bring to the offense:

"The Cardinals eschewed their defensive needs to grab Love, a talented dual threat who lifts the rushing game and gives provides a great option out of the backfield as a receiver. His ability to score from anywhere on the field makes him worthy of a top-five selection."

Yahoo Sports' Charles McDonald

AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein

Arizona Cardinals: D

Atlanta Falcons: N/A

Baltimore Ravens: B-

Buffalo Bills: N/A

Carolina Panthers: B+

Chicago Bears: B-

Cincinnati Bengals: N/A

Cleveland Browns: B (Spencer Fano), B- (Kevin Concepcion)

Dallas Cowboys: A+ (Caleb Downs), C- (Malachi Lawrence)

Denver Broncos: N/A

Detroit Lions: B

Green Bay Packers: N/A

Houston Texans: C

Indianapolis Colts: N/A

Jacksonville Jaguars: N/A

Kansas City Chiefs: C+ (Mansoor Delane), A (Peter Woods)

Las Vegas Raiders: B+

Los Angeles Chargers: D+

Los Angeles Rams: F

Miami Dolphins: C (Kadyn Proctor), C- (Chris Johnson)

Minnesota Vikings: A-

New England Patriots: A

New Orleans Saints: C

New York Giants: A+ (Arvell Reese), B- (Francis Mauigoa)

New York Jets: C- (David Bailey), C- (Kenyon Sadiq), C (Omar Cooper Jr.)

Philadelphia Eagles: C

Pittsburgh Steelers: B+

San Francisco 49ers:

Seattle Seahawks: D

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: A

Tennessee Titans: C (Carnell Tate), A (Keldric Faulk)

Washington Commanders: A+

While Reuter was mostly positive and avoided handing out anything under a B, Yahoo Sports' Charles McDonald didn't pull any punches. The Cardinals, Seahawks and Chargers all received a D or D+ for their picks and the Rams stood out with an F for their selection of Ty Simpson.

" An undersized QB without great traits going this high doesn't make much sense. This is such a far deviation from the current talent level and arm talent of the top quarterbacks in the league—including current Rams starter Matthew Stafford," he wrote of the pick.

The Cowboys' selection of Caleb Downs was one of just three picks that drew an A+ grade from him. Downs was the top overall player on the B/R Scouting Department big board and McDonald called him a potential All-Pro-level player. Taking a sure thing like Downs makes it easier to accept the risk they took by taking Malachi Lawrence later in the round.

The other A+ picks were fellow Buckeyes defenders Arvell Reese to the New York Giants at five and Sonny Styles to the Washington Commanders. McDonald was high on both picks for their ability to provide a boost up front, calling Styles a "unicorn" who will provide a big upgrade from what Bobby Wagner was last season.

CBS Sports' Mike Renner

AP Photo/Phil Long

Cleveland Browns OT Spencer Fano and WR KC Concepcion

Arizona Cardinals: C+

Atlanta Falcons: N/A

Baltimore Ravens: A

Buffalo Bills: N/A

Carolina Panthers: B+

Chicago Bears: B

Cincinnati Bengals: N/A

Cleveland Browns: A+ (Spencer Fano), Kevin Concepcion (A+)

Dallas Cowboys: A (Caleb Downs), C (Malachi Lawrence)

Denver Broncos: N/A

Detroit Lions: C

Green Bay Packers: N/A

Houston Texans: A-

Indianapolis Colts: N/A

Jacksonville Jaguars: N/A

Kansas City Chiefs: B- (Mansoor Delane)

Las Vegas Raiders: A

Los Angeles Chargers: B+

Los Angeles Rams: A

Miami Dolphins: A+ (Kadyn Proctor), A (Chris Johnson)

Minnesota Vikings: D

New England Patriots: A+

New Orleans Saints: B+

New York Giants: A-

New York Jets: C- (David Bailey), B+ (Kenyon Sadiq), A+ (Omar Cooper Jr.)

Philadelphia Eagles: A

Pittsburgh Steelers: B+

San Francisco 49ers: N/A

Seattle Seahawks: B-

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: A+

Tennessee Titans: B (Carnell Tate), B+ (Keldric Faulk)

Washington Commanders: A

Mike Renner of CBS Sports went the opposite direction with his take on the Rams selecting Ty Simpson.

"He understands how to attack tight windows and play with the anticipation necessary to translate to the NFL. I also think he gets underrated physically as he's got very light feet in the pocket and an NFL-caliber arm," Renner wrote of the selection. "The Rams don't plan on picking this high until Matthew Stafford retires, and now they have their transition plan."

Renner also absolutely loved what the Browns did in the first round. They had two picks in the first round, going with offensive lineman Spencer Fano at No. 9 and wide receiver Kevin Concepcion at No. 24. He called the Texas A&M receiver the best separator in the class.

The CBS Sports analyst handed his lowest grade to the Minnesota Vikings for their selection of Caleb Banks at No. 18. He calls Banks, "the most prodigious physical talent in this defensive tackle class" before noting that the Florida Gator struggled with consistency and injuries that are concerning.

Banks missed most of the 2025 season with a foot injury then suffered another foot injury at the NFL combine.

The Bucs and Patriots were also standouts for Renner. Tampa Bay stopped the slide for Rueben Bain Jr. at No. 15 while the Patriots snagged Caleb Lomu to continue building the offensive line in front of Drake Maye.

Notable Day 2 Grades

AP Photo/Michael Laughlin

Arizona Cardinals QB Carson Beck

Cardinals: QB Carson Beck, Miami

The first round only saw two quarterbacks selected and none went in the second round. The Arizona Cardinals were the next team to add to their quarterback room when they made Carson Beck the third quarterback off the board.

Yahoo Sports' Charles McDonald was not a fan. He gave the Cards a D+ for the selection and that shouldn't be shocking. Beck was ranked 120th overall on our big board and fifth among quarterbacks in the class. B/R scout Dame Parson gave him a fourth-round grade and a comparison to Kenny Pickett in his scouting report.

Renner joined in the sentiment with a "D" grade for the pick.

Steelers: QB Drew Allar, Penn State

11 picks after the Cardinals made Carson Beck the third quarterback off the board, the Steelers took Penn State quarterback Drew Allar. With Aaron Rodgers still undecided on his future, the pick could be significant.

McDonald was a little more kind to the Steelers for this pick, acknowledging Allar has "prototypical size and elite arm strength" before noting that he hasn't done much with it.

Renner liked the pick, giving the Steelers a B.

"Allar is the perfect quarterback in this class to take for Mike McCarthy to develop. He's got the size, the arm, and the feet to evade pressure in the pocket. Unfortunately, he's never had the accuracy," he noted.