The 2026 NFL Draft is in the books, and 257 players have realized their dreams of being selected into the NFL fraternity.
Plenty of those players will go on to become strong contributors at the next level. And a select few – most notably Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza – will have a chance to develop into franchise-changing forces for the organizations that drafted them.
Per usual, the NFL draft was unpredictable, and numerous teams bucked the consensus while sticking to their own boards. That resulted in some head-scratching selections but also created some excellent value picks for franchises.
Which picks earn the top grades during the 2026 NFL Draft? Below is a look at USA TODAY Sports' grades for every single pick, from Mendoza at No. 1 overall to Red Murdock at No. 257.
NFL DRAFT GRADES: Ranking all 32 teams' 2026 classes, with lowly Jets earning an A+
The NFL Draft regularly produces its most memorable moments off the stage, when selections end with a handshake or embrace from the commissioner.See the moments when draft night emotions peak as Roger Goodell greets players hearing their names called.Above, Texas Tech Red Raiders linebacker David Bailey embraces NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after he is selected by the New York Jets as the number two pick during the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium.
1 / 6Roger Goodell shares hugs with players on the NFL draft stageThe NFL Draft regularly produces its most memorable moments off the stage, when selections end with a handshake or embrace from the commissioner.See the moments when draft night emotions peak as Roger Goodell greets players hearing their names called.Above, Texas Tech Red Raiders linebacker David Bailey embraces NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after he is selected by the New York Jets as the number two pick during the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium.
The NFL Draft regularly produces its most memorable moments off the stage, when selections end with a handshake or embrace from the commissioner.See the moments when draft night emotions peak as Roger Goodell greets players hearing their names called.Above, Texas Tech Red Raiders linebacker David Bailey embraces NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after he is selected by the New York Jets as the number two pick during the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium.
The Raiders didn't bother indulging in much misdirection about this pick, and with good reason. Mendoza is a remarkably complete and composed quarterback prospect and could help Las Vegas escape its unending cycle of resets. There could be some early turbulence, especially if an offensive line that surrendered a league-worst 64 sacks doesn't make significant strides. But the Heisman Trophy winner isn't merely a caretaker, as he's proven fully capable of pulling an offense out of deep holes on third down. And with Kirk Cousins in the fold, Las Vegas can prioritize Mendoza's development and not rush him into a potentially unfavorable situation for his long-term trajectory. There's considerable work to do to enact a proper support system, but between the arrival of Mendoza and first-time coach Klint Kubiak, there's finally some legitimate reason for excitement for the Silver and Black.
The mystery is over. After being tied to Arvell Reese for much of the pre-draft process, Gang Green seemed to be attached more closely to Bailey in recent weeks. On some level, taking a proven pass rusher makes sense for a regime that needs to show it deserves the chance to build this team from the ground up. And he provides a more clear projection to the pros than Reese, the linebacker who only dabbled at edge rushing at Ohio State. But Reese might have more upside as the bigger overall game-wrecker, and Bailey's pairing with the similarly built Will McDonald IV might prompt some issues for the Jets' run defense. Still, the instant disruption Bailey can provide to a group that registered just 26 sacks last season is undeniable.
After all that speculation on a trade, Arizona stayed put and made Love the highest-drafted running back since Saquon Barkley in 2018. Love can truly be a game-breaker in the right setting. But the Cardinals might have an extremely difficult time getting a return on investment in him that would justify this pick. Love shatters the guaranteed pay for running backs with more than $50 million, meaning that extracting any surplus value on what should be a cost-controlled rookie deal will be extremely difficult. And as other highly drafted running backs have demonstrated, there's only so much that even the most talented ball carriers can do to revolutionize a ground game that has troubles starting up front. With little certainty behind center and a significant weakness at right tackle, Love might find it hard to find any running space early in his career.
Here's the first true surprise of the early order. In my final mock draft, I suspected that Robert Saleh and Mike Borgonzi would decide between two Buckeyes in hybrid defender Arvell Reese and linebacker Sonny Styles. Turns out, the duo had another Ohio State product in mind in Tate. It's entirely sensible for Tennessee to want to provide Cam Ward with a greater level of support, and giving him a wideout who can break free from coverage and haul in contested catches is an entirely reasonable route for leadership to pursue. And getting an elite pass catcher on the open market or via trade is never easy. Tate will face questions about whether he can be a true go-to target after never serving in that capacity in Columbus. But the skill set is there for him to be a high-end starter.
Quite the way to kick off the John Harbaugh era. Reese fell further than anyone could have expected, and he now joins a defense that already includes Brian Burns, Abdul Carter and Kayvon Thibodeaux. The Giants have plenty of uncertainty at other spots throughout their defense, especially after dealing away Dexter Lawrence to the Giants. But Reese was the top-ranked overall player on many analysts' big boards (including ours). He can detonate blockers and ball carriers alike, which will surely come in handy for bolstering the league's 31st-ranked run defense. The pass-rush plan might take some time to coalesce, but the Micah Parsons comparisons - while lofty - are not unfounded.
This wasn't the seismic trade that many were expecting, but it's still meaningful. Kansas City moved up ahead of Washington to ensure it would land Delane, this class' unquestioned top cover man. In doing so, Brett Veach reloads his secondary after offloading Trent McDuffie. Despite the franchise's habit of developing younger corners, Kansas City now has a bit more confidence in its ability to answer for Justin Herbert and Bo Nix, whose passing attacks could take a step forward next year. But the Chiefs missed a prime opportunity to address their pass rush, and any coverage benefits might be moot if the team can't generate sufficient pressure.
Adam Peters continues to give Dan Quinn and new coordinator Daronte Jones some major assets to overhaul the defense. Styles is not only hyperathletic but incredibly savvy and capable of cleaning up everything in front of him. Caleb Downs could have been a consideration here, but Styles can offer plenty as someone who can take control of the second level of this unit. With no second-round pick, however, Washington might have trouble finding a difference-maker at receiver or in the secondary later on in the draft.
Tyler Shough exceeded all reasonable expectations of a second-round rookie quarterback. For him to take a leap forward in his development, however, New Orleans had to equip him with something beyond Chris Olave in a depleted receiving corps. Tyson could help the Saints' passing attack reach that next level, as he's a smooth and well-rounded pass catcher whose skill set aligns well with Kellen Moore's offensive scheme. The injury history looms large, and his route running requires some refinement. But the arrow is pointing up for New Orleans in the second year of Moore's tenure.
Nice move by Andrew Berry to pick up some additional draft capital while still securing his offensive tackle of choice. Fano isn't necessarily the clear-cut top blocker in this class, but he makes plenty of sense for a Browns front looking for a finishing touch to an expansive offseason reworking. Berry said ahead of the draft he wouldn't get hung up on what side a lineman had the most experience at, and Fano is a natural right tackle. But he's also fleet-footed and can help stabilize the pass protection in a division in which there will be plenty of that coming off the edge. Getting ahead of the offensive line run is a wise move, as a receiver can wait.
John Harbaugh's first steps with Big Blue have been centered on achieving some semblance of stability, which has largely escaped the franchise for the better part of a decade. Taking Mauigoa certainly aligns with that effort. Mauigoa is a punishing force in the run game who won't get pushed around by pass rushers, either. He was announced as an offensive tackle, but he should slide in at right guard after veteran Jermaine Eluemunor was re-signed at right tackle. Olaivavega Ioane could have been a candidate for the same role, but Mauigoa is a high-floor prospect who can make life easier for Jaxson Dart on several fronts.
After several years of earning some draft-night scorn, Jerry Jones finally hit it big. He capitalizes on a tumble for Downs, who has a solid case to be considered a top-three player in this class. The two-time unanimous All-American can be the force against the run that Jones covets, but he more importantly can help cut down on the meltdowns in the secondary that plagued Dallas throughout last year. New coordinator Christian Parker also has a major weapon to deploy from the slot as he likes after the Cowboys sorely missed Jourdan Lewis after the nickel's departure the previous offseason.
A Miami team facing an extensive rebuild looked to be in prime position to address its front. Proctor, however, is a somewhat surprising target for the team. At his best, the 6-7, 352-pounder can be a devastating enforcer in the run game and engulf edge rushers to safeguard his quarterback. But weight management has been an issue, and he's one of the draft's more volatile prospects. High-risk, high-reward move for new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan.