2026 NFL Draft team grades: Live updates for all 32 teams

The 2026 NFL Draft is underway. Months of scouting, planning and — for some teams — aggressive trading led to these three days. All 32 franchises are now adding rookies to their rosters throughout the seven-round event, and every selection is ripe for scrutiny.

Each of Thursday’s picks fell under our watchful eye as we analyzed the value, fit and talent caliber associated with each selection, and a whopping eight trades further complicated the equation. We’re back to do the same across two more rounds on Friday.

Using an internal formula based on our analysts’ individual pick grades, we’re handing out team-by-team grades to assess how effectively each franchise uses its draft capital. Early rounds carry more weight than later selections, and picks at the top of the board are valued more heavily than those at the back end of each round.

This page tracks how each team is building its class in real time, with team grades updating after every selection.

Individual pick grades are determined by two CBS Sports NFL Draft analysts. Mike Renner handled Round 1 and will continue to dish out grades through Rounds 2 and 3, while Josh Edwards takes over on Saturday for Rounds 4–7.

Here are our team-by-team grades for the 2026 NFL Draft.

2026 NFL Draft essentials

Arizona Cardinals — B

Arizona has a clear plan in this draft, and that is to build a running game. The Cardinals went running back-interior lineman with their first two picks.

Selecting a ballcarrier is about as aggressive as the Cardinals could have possibly been at No. 3. They made Jeremiyah Love the first running back selected in the top five since Saquon Barkley went second overall in 2018. They are now invested heavily into the position even though they don’t have their long-term quarterback, which makes this a “C+” pick, according to Renner. That is no knock against Love himself, though. Many analysts view him as the best player in the draft. He has superstar potential.

Cardinals draft Jeremiyah Love No. 3: Highest RB pick since Saquon Barkley now among NFL’s highest-paid

Zachary Pereles

Atlanta Falcons — A+

It took until the midway point of the second round, but the Falcons are finally on the board. And they are responsible for arguably the best feel-good story of the draft. In selecting Avieon Terrell, the cornerback group is now familial. Terrell joins his brother, A.J., in the unit and could share the starting lineup with him in very short order.

Baltimore Ravens — B+

The interior of the Ravens’ offensive line is in flux after Tyler Linderbaum departed in free agency. Bolstering the guard and center spots is paramount as Baltimore enters the Jesse Minter era, and it kicked off that new phase with a home-run pick that addresses the need. Olaivavega Ioane might be the best pure lineman in the class and will immediately help open lanes for Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry in what should remain one of the NFL’s premier rushing attacks.

Baltimore then continued to revamp its edge rusher group in Round 2. The nixed Maxx Crosby trade and successful Trey Hendrickson acquisition made the Ravens’ defensive end group one of the most talked-about units in the NFL this offseason, and Zion Young is the latest addition. He is more of a run-stopper than a pass rusher, so the Ravens could move him inside. If not, it’s a “C+” pick, according to Renner.

Buffalo Bills — B-

The Bills are finally on the board in Round 2 after trading out of the first round. The expectation was that, once they went on the clock, they would select a defensive player. That played out with the selection of T.J. Parker, who bolsters a defensive front that must improve if Buffalo is to break through and get the most out of Josh Allen and its elite offense.

Carolina Panthers — A-

Since the Panthers clearly want to see things through with Bryce Young, it makes sense to build the offense around him. Adding more protection with a first-round offensive lineman is a logical step in that direction. Carolina had been strongly tied to tight end Kenyon Sadiq at No. 19, and while giving Young another receiving option would have been splashier, there is nothing wrong with taking Monroe Freeling in that spot. He might be a bit of a project, though.

Lee Hunter is no project. He was an absolute force at Texas Tech last year and UCF the three seasons prior. The Panthers found an excellent run-stopper on Day 2 with what is already their best pick of the draft.

Chicago Bears — B

The Bears had not taken a defensive player in the first round since 2018, which was the longest stretch of any team. The expectation was that the streak would end, but the question was whether they would address the defensive front or continue to rebuild their secondary after a free-agent exodus. The latter came to fruition when Dillon Thieneman was available to them at No. 25. He is a Day 1 starter for a team with a hole at safety.

Cincinnati Bengals — A+

Even though they traded out of the first round, the Bengals still managed to secure an exciting replacement for Trey Hendrickson. Nobody is going to fully replicate the kind of production Hendrickson gave them off the edge over the last handful of years, but Cashius Howell dominated SEC offensive tackles during his Texas A&M career and could be in for a prolific pro career, even though his arms measured concerningly small.

Cleveland Browns — A+

Cleveland wanted to come out of the first round with an offensive lineman and a receiver, and it did just that. It then added a second receiver on Day 2. Back-to-back “A+” picks followed by an “A” in Rounds 1 and 2 make the Browns perhaps the biggest winner of the draft.

Shoring up the line is a necessity if the Browns are ever to develop a franchise quarterback. Renner said they got the cleanest offensive line prospect in the draft in Spencer Fano. That’s one box checked. Surrounding said quarterback with playmakers is also a non-negotiable. Enter KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston. Box No. 2? Also checked.

Dallas Cowboys — B

The talk of draft season was that the Cowboys would trade up if one of their favorite defensive prospects was there for the taking. They were also identified as a trade-down candidate with their No. 20 pick. Jerry Jones made both of those predictions come to life — all while securing a couple of terrific defensive prospects to fill his team’s glaring needs.

Caleb Downs remaining on the board outside the top 10 was the catalyst for a transaction with the Dolphins. He has the potential to be a long-term leader of this defense. Malachi Lawrence was available at No. 23 after the Cowboys made an intra-division swap with the Eagles, and while not everyone tabbed him as a first-round-caliber prospect, Renner said he has the highest-end tools of any edge rusher outside the top-five picks.

Cowboys NFL Draft tracker: Picks, grades, analysis for every selection as Dallas trades up for Caleb Downs

Garrett Podell

Denver Broncos — Incomplete

Detroit Lions — B-

If mock draft season taught us anything about the Lions, it was that it would be a shock to see them take anything besides an offensive lineman in the first round. Blake Miller emerged as the guy at No. 17, and it’s hard not to love the pick. Not only does Detroit fill a glaring need at one of the tackle spots, but it can now move forward with its plan to shift Penei Sewell from the right side to the left. Miller exclusively played right tackle at Clemson and can now hit the ground running at that same position in the NFL. Renner, however, does not love prioritizing fit over taking the best player available and gave the Lions a “C” as a result.

The Lions rebounded in the second round by trading up for Derrick Moore. There is now a real hometown feel in Detroit’s edge rusher group, with a pair of Michigan products in Moore and Aidan Hutchinson.

Green Bay Packers — Incomplete

Houston Texans — A

The Texans are in a trading mood. They moved up for both of their first two picks, first for Keylan Rutledge and on Day 2 for Kayden McDonald.

They might not have needed to trade up in order to grab Rutledge, as most prognosticators tabbed him as a second-round pick. That doesn’t make it a poor selection, though. The Texans are in the midst of a total offensive line overhaul and still had a little bit of work to do on the interior. They found what is arguably the second-best guard in the class and got aggressive in taking him.

Moving up for McDonald is more understandable. It was slightly surprising to see him remain on the board after the first round, and he is a tremendous fit on an already beastly defensive front. As a terrific run-stopper, he is the perfect complement to Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter, who comprise an electric pass rush.

Indianapolis Colts — Incomplete

Jacksonville Jaguars — Incomplete

Kansas City Chiefs — A

The Chiefs entered Thursday with two first-round picks and closed it with two defensive players. There’s no elite help on the way for Patrick Mahomes on his side of the ball, but it’s hard not to like what Kansas City accomplished.

The mass exodus from the secondary this offseason made cornerback a key need — so much so that the Chiefs traded up from No. 9 to select Mansoor Delane. The trade with the Browns opened the door for GM Brett Veach to take a player Renner calls the “safest pick at corner in this draft class.” The only knock against this pick is that Kansas City gave up a third-rounder in the trade. Grabbing Peter Woods towards the end of the round as an eventual successor to Chris Jones was the cherry on top.

That wasn’t the end of the defensive haul, though. R Mason Thomas joined the group on Friday to continue a surge of talent on the defensive front, which also included a couple of Day 2 picks last year in Omarr Norman-Lot and Ashton Gillotte.

Chiefs-Browns NFL Draft trade grades: Kansas City moves up for Mansoor Delane, Cleveland lands Spencer Fano

Zachary Pereles

Las Vegas Raiders — A

It would have been the surprise of all surprises if the Raiders did anything with the No. 1 pick other than select Fernando Mendoza. There is no drama here, and as such, it’s an “A” for Las Vegas right out of the gate. Klint Kubiak has his quarterback of the future.

The draft really started for Las Vegas in Round 2. Treydan Stukes was the first pick the Raiders had to make on the fly. Stukes gained traction among the draft community as the spring progressed, and while he is popular among analysts, the fact that he came off the board before Emmanuel McNeil-Warren is a surprise. 

Raiders draft Fernando Mendoza No. 1: The pick that must end decades of draft failure

Douglas Clawson

Los Angeles Chargers — B+

The Chargers need help on the interior offensive line in the worst way, and they will wait until at least Day 2 to find it. That might not be the worst move from a positional value perspective. Plus, it’s not like they won’t benefit from some edge help. Akheem Mesidor makes a lot of sense for a team that just lost Odafe Oweh and will eventually need to replace Khalil Mack.

Los Angeles Rams — A

On one hand, finding the heir to Matthew Stafford makes a lot of sense. On the other, drafting Ty Simpson on Day 1 is a bit of a head-scratcher. The No. 13 pick feels early for a prospect who was no sure thing to go in the first round. This will likely be one of the most scrutinized selections of the entire draft.

Renner is high on Simpson, though, and tabbed it as an A-grade pick.

“Simpson showed high-end ability last season before injuries started piling up,” Renner said. “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. The Rams don’t plan on picking this high until Matthew Stafford retires, and now they have their transition plan.”

Rams select Alabama QB Ty Simpson No. 13 overall at NFL Draft: What pick means for Matthew Stafford

Tyler Sullivan

Miami Dolphins — A

Miami had needs across the board heading into the draft, which afforded it the ability to take the best player available with each selection. That’s one of the perks of being squarely entrenched in a rebuild.

The Dolphins signed what might be their franchise quarterback in Malik Willis in free agency, and now they have more protection for him in the form of Kadyn Proctor. He was a polarizing prospect in the pre-draft process because of his size — a major asset that could also limit him if he isn’t able to play at a manageable weight. If Miami gets the best version of him, he can stick at left tackle and become a building block of this rebuild.

On defense, Chris Johnson could be a lockdown corner for years to come, while Jacob Rodriguez was the best defensive player in college football last year. That’s a pretty exciting set of picks.

Minnesota Vikings — D

The Vikings must not have any concerns about Caleb Banks’ foot, because using the No. 18 pick on a defensive lineman who has battled multiple injuries over the past year is otherwise a questionable move. Two surgeries since the start of the 2025 college football season, including one as recently as the combine, made Banks a candidate to fall out of the first round entirely. Instead, Minnesota took a gamble and will hope he delivers on his potential as a massive force on the defensive interior.

New England Patriots — A+

Might this draft be a sign of things to come for Will Campbell? Just one year after the Patriots selected him No. 4 overall, they took another left tackle in the first round.

Campbell struggled at times as a rookie, especially in the playoffs, and now that Caleb Lomu is in the picture, the Patriots could move him inside to a guard spot. At the same time, the Lomu pick might have nothing to do with Campbell at all. Morgan Moses is 35 and likely not long for the starting job at right tackle, and Lomu could simply be his successor.

New Orleans Saints — B+

The discourse around Jordyn Tyson’s injury history didn’t stop the Saints from making him a top-10 pick. Torn knee ligaments, a broken collarbone and, most recently, a hamstring issue raised concerns about his ability to stay on the field, but the talent is undeniable. As long as he stays healthy, he will be an excellent weapon for Tyler Shough as the quarterback enters his first full year as New Orleans’ starter. There’s a fun young core growing in this offense.

Attention shifted on Day 2 to the defensive side of the ball when the Saints scooped up lineman Christen Miller. Renner called him “one of the safer run defenders in the class,” and he offers the versatility to play on the edge or kick inside to tackle.

New York Giants — A-

The only team with two top-10 picks came out of the first round a big winner, and it continued its hot start to the draft Friday when it grabbed Colton Hood.

Closer to the line of scrimmage, New York’s front seven just got even more fearsome. The initial thought with the Reese selection was that the Giants were preparing to trade Kayvon Thibodeaux, but that is not the plan, per ESPN. With both of them in town, along with the rest of the existing group of defenders, the Giants will be a problem for opposing offenses if they can find a replacement for Dexter Lawrence in the trenches.

Speaking of the trenches, adding protection for Jaxson Dart in the form of Francis Mauigoa is another tremendous use of a first-round pick. Renner projects him to move inside to one of the guard spots for now, which will also help Cam Skattebo and the running game.

New York Jets — B

Jets fans ought to have mixed feelings about how the first round unfolded. It started with a couple of iffy picks and closed with a bang.

Renner noted the Jets already have an edge defender with inconsistent run-stopping skills in Will McDonald IV, so adding another in David Bailey might not raise the defense’s ceiling as much as some think. Kenyon Sadiq is also the second tight end the Jets have selected in as many years after taking Mason Taylor in the second round in 2025.

Trading up for a third first-round pick arguably saved the day. That Omar Cooper Jr. was still available at No. 30 was a blessing for the Jets in their search to stack offensive playmakers. Cooper was widely mocked in the upper half of the first round but instead found a home just before the end of Day 1 in New York, where he will be an immediate starter opposite Garrett Wilson.

Philadelphia Eagles — A

Trading up to select a receiver effectively cements the idea that A.J. Brown is on the way out. The Eagles will reportedly ship their star pass-catcher to the Patriots later this offseason, so it makes sense to find a replacement. It was far from a guarantee that Lemon, the reigning Biletnikoff Award winner as college football’s top wide receiver, would be available this late in the first round, so moving up three spots to get him is justifiable and makes this a great value pick.

Pittsburgh Steelers — A-

Considering he has just five years of football experience, Max Iheanachor was best suited for a team already set at tackle but needing one in the years to come. The Steelers fit that model with Broderick Jones and Troy Fautanu entrenched in their spots. This isn’t the kind of pick that will invigorate a fan base; it’s one that sets Pittsburgh up for long-term success, which is this franchise’s M.O.

The Iheanachor pick looks even better now that the Steelers also have a standout wide receiver in their class. They thought they had one in Round 1 but instead had to wait until Day 2 to get him, and Germie Bernard ought to be worth the wait. He was productive at both Washington and Alabama, albeit unheralded, as he was often the understudy to the numerous stars at those schools.

San Francisco 49ers — C+

The 49ers fielded calls for the No. 33 pick all day Friday, according to multiple reports, but elected to keep the second round’s first pick when they did not receive an enticing enough offer. They used it to continue reshaping their receiving corps with the selection of De’Zhaun Stribling.

The Ole Miss product joins Mike Evans as a newcomer in a new-look group — one that seems certain to lose Brandon Aiyuk and has already said goodbye to Jauan Jennings.

Seattle Seahawks — B-

In a vacuum, the first round is probably a bit early to take the No. 2 running back in this class. It works for the Seahawks, however, because they’re in a unique position as the reigning Super Bowl champions with very few needs.

Running back is the most glaring of those deficiencies with Kenneth Walker III out the door and Zach Charbonnet likely to miss a sizable chunk of 2026 as he recovers from a torn ACL. Seattle could afford to reach a bit to round out what it hopes is another championship roster, and Price is such a talented ballcarrier that nobody batted an eye at the selection.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers — A+

Defense is the focus of this draft for Tampa Bay, which went with an edge rusher and linebacker in consecutive picks to open the weekend. That’s not a bad move for a team that lost Lavonte David to retirement.

Arm length is the only knock against Rueben Bain Jr., but it was a big enough question mark to drop him low enough on the board for the Buccaneers to scoop him up at No. 15. While he has some of the shortest arms we’ve ever seen from a first-round edge rusher, that didn’t stop him from terrorizing offenses last year as the most disruptive defensive end in college football. He arrives in Tampa Bay as the answer to the franchise’s biggest weakness: disrupting opposing quarterbacks.

Tennessee Titans — B

The Titans saw the bevy of teams with two first-round picks and decided to get in on the action. A late trade with the Bills gave them the No. 31 pick, which they used to further reconstruct Robert Saleh’s defensive front.

Earlier, it was no surprise to see Carnell Tate go in the top 10, but few would have thought the Titans would be the team to land him. That doesn’t make it a bad pick for Tennessee, though. With Jeremiyah Love off the board, the Titans shifted their focus from running back to wide receiver in the search for weapons to pair with Cam Ward. That’s exactly what they got in Tate, who could become the second-year quarterback’s favorite target as a rookie.

Washington Commanders — A

The Commanders have their Von Miller replacement. The veteran linebacker remains a free agent, and selecting the best player at his position in the draft suggests Washington is content to let him walk. There is always a positional value discussion when it comes to taking inside linebackers in the first round, but Styles has been widely considered a top-10 talent since his remarkable showing at the combine.