NFL Draft grades 2026: Live results, analysis for every pick in Rounds 1-3

NFL Draft grades 2026: Live results, analysis for every pick in Rounds 1-3 originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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How will your team fare on the first two nights of the 2026 NFL Draft, from the first through the third rounds? The Sporting News again has you covered, tracking all the selections and handing out grades in real time on Thursday and Friday nights.

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This class won’t be known for the quarterbacks or running backs beyond the top options, but wide receivers, offensive linemen and edge rushers were positioned to dominate early. That makes for some intriguing and surprising selections after another predictable No. 1 overall pick.

From the top, with the Las Vegas Raiders taking Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza as their new franchise QB, through No. 100 overall, this is your hub for in-depth live reactions for Rounds 1-3, grading every team and player fit:

JUMP TO GRADES:Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3

NFL Draft grades 2026: Expert analysis for Rounds 1-3

Round 1

1. Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana (6-5, 236)

Grade: A

The Raiders get their much-needed pocket-passing franchise quarterback who checks all the boxes, following Cam Newton and Joe Burrow as Heisman winners and national champions becoming No. 1 overall picks. Mendoza is can’t-miss in Klint Kubiak’s offense on a Tom Brady part-owned team with his arm, accuracy, athleticism, decision-making, leadership skills and intangibles. The only question is when he will start, in Week 1 or sit a little behind Kirk Cousins.

2. New York Jets: David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech (6-4, 251)

Grade: A

The Jets make their call on who they think they can be the most disruptive pass rusher who can dominate blockers with speed and quickness. Bailey has that explosive profile and has a higher ceiling than Arvell Reese. New York also gets an unique athletic who can also help in coverage.

3. Arizona Cardinals: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame (6-0, 212)

Grade: A-

The Cardinals have loved Love for a long time as a dynamic workhorse back, moving free-agent pickup Tyler Allgeier to top backup status again. There’s no doubt Love will be a complete big playmaker with his power, speed and quickness in the NFL, but Arizona did have some more glaring defensive needs. Love will need to carry their young offense in transition under Mike LaFleur without Kyler Murray.

4. Tennessee Titans: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State (6-2, 192)

Grade: A

The Titans throw a curveball for their offense with Love off the board a pick earlier. They still make a great pivot move to help second-year No. 1 overall quarterback Cam Ward. Ward needed a true outside top target and Tate fills that with his size, speed and field-stretching ability. He also will be a welcome red zone asset in Brian Daboll’s offense.

5. New York Giants: Arvell Reese, EDGE/LB, Ohio State (6-4, 241)

Grade: A

The Giants take advantage of Reese falling a few spots after Bailey to get the most impactful defender available with Love and Tate off the board. Reese is a versatile weapon in the Micah Parsons vein who has shown some pass-rush juice to go with his lateral rangy playmaking. He gives them a little more ground coverage than former college teammate Sonny Styles.

6. Kansas City Chiefs (from CLE): Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU (6-0, 187)

Grade: A

Delane becomes the second most obvious pick early in the first round after the Chiefs moved up to No. 9 to ensure landing him ahead of the Commanders. Cornerback is a huge need for Kansas City after moving on from Trent McDuffie, Jaylen Watson and Joshua Williams in the offseason. Delane compares well to McDuffie as a potential shutdown corner who can make a lot of plays on the ball with his big frame in coverage.

7. Washington Commanders: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State (6-5, 244)

Grade: A

The top talent is coming off the board well early and it made sense for the Commanders to go best defensive player available, easy with Bailey, Reese and Delane off the board. Styles will find a spot in Dan Quinn’s second level, a major upgrade as a run defender and cover man over Frankie Luvu. Styles also is the ideal lateral and downfield complement to Leo Chenal, the former Chief signed for his upfield production.

8. New Orleans Saints: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State (6-2, 203)

Grade: A-

The Saints could have considered Rueben Bain Jr. to fill a big need on the edge of their defense to replace Cameron Jordan, but they instead do fine to get Tyler Shough a much-needed second target to play off Chris Olave. Tyson can thrive either a big-play “Z” outside or big slot who causes some mismatches inside. This shows real belief in Shough as the franchise QB as offensive-minded coach Kellen Moore gets a much-desired weapon.

9. Cleveland Browns (from KC): Spencer Fano, OT, Utah (6-6, 302)

Grade: B

The Browns were locked so much into Tate to help their offense early that treading down and adding more draft capital made sense once the Titans took the top wide receiver. With Tyson also gone, Cleveland pivoted toward working on its line rebuild. Fano can be a right tackle option for the team, but it’s probable he starts right away at guard with the Browns turning the page from former top starters Wyatt Teller and Joel Bitonio.

10. New York Giants (from CIN): Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (6-6, 315)

Grade: B

The Giants were attached plenty to wide receivers but with Tate and Tyson gone, they didn’t turn to get Makai Lemon as a much-needed No. 2 opposite Malik Nabers. Instead, they went with Mauigoa, who figures to slide inside to start at either left or right guard given they are pretty good at the tackles with Andrew Thomas and Jermaine Elumenor. Shoring up the line for Jaxson Dart and the running game isn’t bad, but it was a slight reach in relation to their needs.

11. Dallas Cowboys (from MIA): Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State (6-0, 206)

Grade: A

The Cowboys saw two of their favorite defensive prospects go earlier with Styles and Delane, but that didn’t want to risk missing out on getting at least one of the top Ohio STate playmakers. Safety is rather weak with Malik Hooker and Jalen Thompson and Downs provides a big upgrade with rare upfield traits vs. the run on top of great coverage instincts. Dallas lands the player who was at one time seen as the best in this class until some unwarranted concerns about his size in relation to playmaking.

12. Miami Dolphins (from DAL): Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama (6-7, 366)

Grade: C

Proctor has been polarizing in the pre-draft process because of split opinion on whether he can deliver the consistent athleticism and technique needed to play effective tackle in the NFL in the massive frame. The Dolphins lean on the side of huge upside. In reality, Proctor will need to play either right tackle in place of Austin Jackson or slide inside at first because he cannot be trusted in regular pass protection yet. Miami did reach with some better, safer offensive linemen on the board.

13. Los Angeles Rams (from ATL): Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama (6-1, 211)

Grade: D

The Rams make the biggest early head-scratcher, going for a luxury QB stash pick behind reigning NFL MVP QB Matthew Stafford playing at the highest level of his career in Sean McVay’s offense. Simpson has a lot of smarts and accuracy but he is a long way away from being a reliable and effective winning starter with his limited college starting experience. Even if Stafford would retire next year, it’s a huge reach for a Super Bowl favorite that needed more immediate impact at several other positions.

14. Baltimore Ravens: Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State (6-4, 330 pounds)

Grade: A+

The Ravens were coming around on Ioane as the best early pick for them late and follow through in getting the draft’s best pure interior lineman to added needed young nastiness and power in their overall blocking in front of Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry. Ioane even has the potential to take over from free-agent departure Tyler Linderbaum at center with his athletic line leadership.

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers:

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16. New York Jets (from IND):

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17. Detroit Lions:

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18. Minnesota Vikings:

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19. Carolina Panthers:

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20. Dallas Cowboys (from GB):

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21. Pittsburgh Steelers:

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22. Los Angeles Chargers:

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23. Philadelphia Eagles:

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24. Cleveland Browns (from JAX):

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25. Chicago Bears:

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26. Buffalo Bills:

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27. San Francisco 49ers:

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28. Houston Texans:

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29. Kansas City Chiefs (from LAR):

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30. Miami Dolphins (from DEN):

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31. New England Patriots:

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32. Seattle Seahawks:

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Round 2

33. New York Jets

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34. Arizona Cardinals

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35. Tennessee Titans

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36. Las Vegas Raiders

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37. New York Giants

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38. Houston Texans (from WAS)

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39. Cleveland Browns

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40. Kansas City Chiefs

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41. Cincinnati Bengals

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42. New Orleans Saints

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43. Miami Dolphins

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44. New York Jets (from DAL)

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45. Baltimore Ravens

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46. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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47. Indianapolis Colts

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48. Atlanta Falcons

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49. Minnesota Vikings

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50. Detroit Lions

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51. Carolina Panthers

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52. Green Bay Packers

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53. Pittsburgh Steelers

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54. Philadelphia Eagles

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55. Los Angeles Chargers

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56. Jacksonville Jaguars

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57. Chicago Bears

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58. San Francisco 49ers

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59. Houston Texans

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60. Chicago Bears (from BUF)

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61. Los Angeles Rams

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62. Denver Broncos

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63. New England Patriots

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64. Seattle Seahawks

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Round 3

65. Arizona Cardinals

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66. Tennessee Titans

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67. Las Vegas Raiders

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68. Philadelphia Eagles (from NYJ)

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69. Houston Texans (from NYG)

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70. Cleveland Browns

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71. Washington Commanders

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72. Cincinnati Bengals

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73. New Orleans Saints

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74. Cleveland Browns (from KC)

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75. Miami Dolphins

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76. Pittsburgh Steelers (from DAL)

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77. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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78. Indianapolis Colts

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79. Atlanta Falcons

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80. Baltimore Ravens

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81. Jacksonville Jaguars (from DET)

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82. Minnesota Vikings

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83. Carolina Panthers

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84. Green Bay Packers

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85. Pittsburgh Steelers

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86. Los Angeles Chargers

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87. Miami Dolphins (from PHI)

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88. Jacksonville Jaguars

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89. Chicago Bears

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90. Miami Dolphins (from HOU)

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91. Buffalo Bills

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92. San Francisco 49ers (from CLE)

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93. Los Angeles Rams

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94. Miami Dolphins (from DEN)

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95. New England Patriots

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96. Seattle Seahawks

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97. Minnesota Vikings (compensatory)

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98. Philadelphia Eagles (compensatory)

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99. Pittsburgh Steelers (compensatory)

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100. Jacksonville Jaguars (from DET, compensatory)

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MORE: Ranking signings, trades for all 32 teams from best (Chiefs) to worst (Jets)