2026 NFL Draft Grades: Division
By Jack Brentnall
With the 2026 NFL Draft complete, it’s time to assess how each team navigated the board. These grades weigh my own evaluations against the consensus, with a focus on value, decision-making, and how effectively teams maximised their draft capital.
Arizona Cardinals
This is a confusing class that is difficult to fully buy into from a process standpoint. Jeremiyah Love is an outstanding talent, but taking a running back at No. 3 overall on a roster with clear needs at premium positions is hard to justify. There is also a broader timeline concern here, with the likelihood that Love reaches the latter stages of his rookie deal before this team is truly ready to compete.
There are positives elsewhere. The investment in the offensive line makes sense, with Bisontis representing a solid addition, and the Kaleb Proctor selection stands out as one of the more exciting picks in their class. The potential pairing of Proctor and Walter Nolen at defensive tackle offers real upside in the trenches.
However, the Carson Beck pick at No. 65 is one of the more perplexing selections of the draft. It’s difficult to project him as a starting-calibre player given his lack of arm talent and issues under pressure, making this a really rich price to pay at that stage.
There is talent in this class, but the process behind leaves you wanting more.
Grade: C
Draft in full
3 (R1) – Jeremiyah Love (RB, Notre Dame)
34 (R2) – Chase Bisontis (IOL, Texas A&M)
65 (R3) – Carson Beck (QB, Miami)
104 (R4) – Kaleb Proctor (IDL, Southeastern Louisiana)
143 (R5) – Reggie Virgil (WR, Texas Tech)
183 (R6) – Karson Sharar (LB, Iowa)
217 (R7) – Jayden Williams (OT, Ole Miss)
Los Angeles Rams
The Rams have taken an unusual route here, and as is often the case, the Ty Simpson selection will ultimately define how this class is viewed. Quarterbacks taken in the first round always carry that weight, and if Simpson hits, the narrative around this group changes entirely.
From a process standpoint, though, the pick is difficult to fully understand. Planning for the future at quarterback has merit, but doing so while operating in a clear Super Bowl window – with Matthew Stafford coming off an MVP season – feels like a missed opportunity. That sort of premium draft capital could have been used to add a high-end contributor to push this roster over the top, particularly with some longer-term questions around the receiving corps.
The rest of the class does little to shift the needle. Both the Klare and Trost selections came off the board a little earlier than expected, and while there is some logic to the picks, they don’t stand out from a value perspective. The CJ Daniels addition in the sixth round is a nice late flyer, but overall this is a class that feels more neutral than impactful.
Grade: C-
Draft in full
13 (R1) – Ty Simpson (QB, Alabama)
61 (R2) – Max Klare (TE, Ohio State)
93 (R3) – Keagen Trost (OT, Missouri)
197 (R6) – CJ Daniels (WR, Miami)
232 (R7) – Tim Keenan III (IDL, Alabama)
San Francisco 49ers
This is a class with a few appealing pieces, but it is dragged down by a number of significant reaches throughout. De’Zhaun Stribling is a player I’m high on, but taking him at No. 33 felt early relative to the board. The Kaelon Black selection in the third round was even more surprising, continuing a trend of mid-round running back investments that have yet to pay off.
There are some bright spots. They made a clear point of adding juice to their defensive front and I think that both Romello Height and Gracen Halton can have an impact early in their careers. Ephesians Prysock also stands out as one of the better value additions on day three and could develop into a useful contributor.
The broader concern is how often the 49ers strayed from consensus. Four of their selections came from outside the top 200 on the consensus board, despite their final pick not coming until No. 179. That level of divergence introduces unnecessary risk, and has consistently been shown to lead to poorer outcomes. The overall process leaves a lot to be desired.
Grade: C-
Draft in full
33 (R2) – De’Zhaun Stribling (WR, Ole Miss)
70 (R3) – Romello Height (EDGE, Texas Tech)
90 (R3) – Kaelon Black (RB, Indiana)
107 (R4) – Gracen Halton (IDL, Oklahoma)
127 (R4) – Carver Willis (OT, Washington)
139 (R4) – Ephesians Prysock (CB, Washington)
154 (R5) – Jaden Dugger (LB, Louisiana)
179 (R5) – Enrique Cruz Jr. (OT, Kansas)
Seattle Seahawks
I really didn’t like how the Seahawks started their class. In a year where they were operating with depleted draft capital, they took the luxury pick of a running back at No. 32 overall with Jadarian Price.
My concerns with the pick go beyond just positional value. I did not think Price was close to a first round talent and in taking him the Seahawks passed up on an opportunity to strengthen more premium positions. This feels eerily similar to the Chiefs drafting Clyde Edwards-Helaire at No. 32 off the back of a Lombardi Trophy.
Day two was certainly better. Bud Clark and Julian Neal both add talent to the secondary, and getting Neal at No. 99 represents strong value at that point in the draft. There are also some positives later on, with Beau Stephens standing out as a worthwhile addition on day three.
Ultimately, though, this is a class that feels like a mixed bag. The opening decision does a lot of damage from a process standpoint, and while there are some solid picks elsewhere, they aren’t quite enough to fully offset it.
Grade: C+
Draft in full
32 (R1) – Jadarian Price (RB, Notre Dame)
64 (R2) – Bud Clark (S, TCU)
99 (R3) – Julian Neal (CB, Arkansas)
148 (R5) – Beau Stephens (IOL, Iowa)
199 (R6) – Emmanuel Henderson Jr. (WR, Kansas)
236 (R7) – Andre Fuller (CB, Toledo)
242 (R7) – Deven Eastern (IDL, Minnesota)
255 (R7) – Michael Dansby (CB, Arizona)
JACK BRENTNALL
HEAD OF NFL DRAFT CONTENT
Previously the founder of The Jet Sweep, Jack joined The Touchdown as head of Draft Content in 2024. A Scouting Academy alumnus, Jack has been Covering the NFL Draft since 2020. Follow him on Twitter @Jack_Brentnall.