2026 NFL draft: Best picks, trades, QB fits and predictions

Jordan Reid
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Jordan Reid

NFL draft analyst
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Matt Miller
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Matt Miller

NFL draft analyst

A number of Authors

Apr 26, 2026, 06:50 AM ET

Seven rounds and 257 picks have come and gone within the 2026 NFL draft. Gamers landed with their new teams throughout a three-day run that noticed a report run of go catchers through the first two days and some first-round curveballs.

Draft analysts Jordan Reid and Matt Miller have spent greater than a 12 months evaluating this class and have their opinions able to go. So we requested them to interrupt down this draft in 29 classes, from greatest (and worst) picks to a couple long-term predictions.

Who have been the perfect worth choices in every of the seven rounds? Which groups dominated and what have been the perfect trades? Which picks stunned essentially the most and what are essentially the most perfect quarterback suits? Was Ty Simpson actually the perfect first-round play for the Rams? And what number of of those rookie receivers are destined for stardom? Reid and Miller additionally made Rookie of the 12 months predictions, picked standout lessons, pointed to complicated slides, discovered intriguing developmental prospects and instructed huge takeaways. Let’s get to it.

What was your greatest overarching takeaway from the draft?

Miller: This was a draft with expertise and depth within the trenches, which performed out through the first two days. 9 offensive linemen have been drafted in Spherical 1, and 9 tight ends got here off the board within the first three rounds. We additionally noticed 13 edge rushers go off the board within the first 70 picks. We knew this would not be a quarterback or working again draft early, and there have been solely six backfield gamers (4 QBs, two RBs) picked within the prime 100. The ditch gamers greater than picked up the slack.

Reid: The NIL impact has actually lowered the quantity of small-school expertise, particularly early within the draft. Solely three gamers from faculties not in Energy 4 conferences (San Diego State CB Chris Johnson, Toledo S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren and Georgia State WR Ted Hurst) have been picked within the first two days. The remaining 97 got here from the SEC, Large Ten, Large 12, ACC and Notre Dame.

What was your favourite choose of the complete draft?

Miller: S Caleb Downs to the Cowboys. Downs was my No. 3 total participant on this class, so drafting him at No. 11 after buying and selling up one spot was implausible worth for Dallas. However my reward can be concerning the participant the Cowboys are getting, and Downs has All-Professional potential at security. He is a Budda Baker-level expertise and may instantly assist Dallas’ protection.

Reid: DT Kayden McDonald to the Texans. I adore it when groups preserve including sources to construct up the strongest components of their roster. The Texans weren’t happy with having an already-dominant defensive entrance. McDonald’s potential to eat up house and make performs behind the road of scrimmage will present much more freedom for star go rushers Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr.

Who’s your assured future star of the category?

Miller: Cardinals RB Jeremiyah Love. The brand new Arizona working again does not have an instantaneous infrastructure round him, however he is the kind of expertise who can carry the group till a franchise quarterback is added. Love might be on par with latest elite working backs drafted within the prime 10 comparable to Saquon Barkley and Bijan Robinson.

Reid: Downs. I not solely love the touchdown spot with the Cowboys, however he’ll be a key contributor instantly. Downs brings an instantaneous id to a protection that is starved for younger expertise and difference-makers.

Who ought to the Rams have picked as a substitute of Ty Simpson?

Miller: An offensive playmaker, particularly vast receiver Makai Lemon. Lemon was my top-ranked accessible participant when the Rams got here on the clock. He would have been an instant-impact receiver and a possible successor to Davante Adams, who will flip 34 through the upcoming season.

Reid: Matt talked about Lemon, so I am going to go along with tight finish Kenyon Sadiq. The Rams are in a win-now window, and it might have clever so as to add one other playmaker for reigning MVP quarterback Matthew Stafford. Sadiq’s sub-4.4 pace would have made rather more sense for a group with Tremendous Bowl aspirations.

Domonique Foxworth: Rams’ choice of Ty Simpson is a ‘dangerous guess’

Dan Graziano and Domonique Foxworth element why the Rams’ resolution to draft Ty Simpson within the first spherical is not anticipated to repay instantly.

Of the record-tying 17 wideouts drafted in first three rounds, what number of can have a minimum of one 1,000-yard season within the subsequent 5 seasons?

Miller: Three. Carnell Tate, Jordyn Tyson and Lemon might be these guys early of their careers. And whereas I might love to say my man Omar Cooper Jr. right here, he is sharing too many targets with Garrett Wilson, Sadiq and a bevy of working backs to interrupt out throughout his rookie contract.

Reid: I additionally suppose three. Tate and Tyson have clear paths to a whole lot of targets instantly, however one other I’ll throw in there may be KC Concepcion. I consider the Browns’ first-rounder has upside as a WR1 sooner or later.

Who was the perfect worth choose in Spherical 1?

Miller: Lemon to the Eagles. Philadelphia traded as much as No. 20 to steal Lemon from the Steelers (who have been set to select at No. 21), and landed my No. 8 total participant within the course of. Lemon was my WR1 within the class due to his toughness in the course of the sector and his implausible run-after-catch potential.

Reid: Edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. to the Bucs. Bain was my top-ranked edge rusher on this draft, so Tampa Bay getting him at No. 15 was a steal. Bain’s versatility and energy profile match completely with the group’s scheme.

Who was the perfect worth choose in Spherical 2?

Miller: Edge rusher Cashius Howell to the Bengals at No. 41. My No. 25 total participant, Howell slipped to Cincinnati, which can love his first-step quickness off the sting. Edge is place of want after Trey Hendrickson left in free company for Baltimore, and Howell’s 11.5 sacks final season confirmed what he can present.

Reid: The Browns getting McNeil-Warren with the No. 58 choose is among the greatest steals of the draft, as many thought the protection might’ve been a top-25 choose getting into the week.

Who was the perfect worth choose in Spherical 3?

Miller: S A.J. Haulcy to the Colts at No. 78 total. Haulcy is a bodily playmaker at 6-foot, 215 kilos with glorious instincts in protection and the power to play within the field. The Colts have a necessity at security, so Haulcy has a shot to make an early impression.

Reid: WR Chris Bell to the Dolphins at No. 94. Bell tore his ACL in November, which precipitated him to fall to this choose, however it is a worthy threat for the Dolphins to get a participant who was as soon as seen as a first-round prospect.

Who was the perfect worth choose in Spherical 4?

Miller: Edge Dani Dennis-Sutton to the Packers. I might like to take Jermod McCoy like Jordan did under, however let’s spotlight Dennis-Sutton’s worth. My No. 56 total participant fell to the Packers at choose No. 120 and can instantly enhance the skin go rush. With Micah Parsons‘ return date unknown, Dennis-Sutton can have an opportunity to play early.

Reid: McCoy to the Raiders. The nook was my No. 12 total participant and slipped to the fourth spherical because of injury concerns, as he missed the complete 2025 season after tearing his ACL final January. This can be a low-risk, high-reward transfer by the Raiders. If McCoy is ready to return to his pre-injury type, then the franchise has a real shutdown CB1.

Graziano on Cardinals’ choose of Love: ‘Superior participant, horrible choose’

Dan Graziano particulars why the Cardinals deciding on Jeremiyah Love third was not an incredible monetary resolution.

Who was the perfect worth choose in Spherical 5?

Miller: CB Keith Abney II to the Lions. With choose No. 157, the Lions bought a bodily, instinctive cornerback who can dwell on the line of scrimmage and is feisty in press-man conditions. Abney does not have nice measurement or elite pace however is a employee within the slot.

Reid: C Sam Hecht and S Zakee Wheatley to the Panthers. I cheated and took two gamers, however Carolina bought large worth in getting prospects I had fourth-round grades on. Hecht initiatives as the middle of the long run behind Luke Fortner and the group additionally wanted one other younger, high-upside security.

Who was the perfect worth choose in Spherical 6?

Miller: RB Kaytron Allen to the Commanders. Allen was ranked No. 123 on my board and was chosen at No. 187. He might enhance a Washington backfield that had sufficient of a working again must be within the dialog as a possible touchdown spot for Love in Spherical 1.

Reid: RB Demond Claiborne to the Vikings. The Vikings traded as much as choose the previous Wake Forest again. Whereas Minnesota restructured Aaron Jones Sr.’s contract this offseason, there’s room for one more receiving working again within the roster. Claiborne might doubtlessly fill Jones’ position in 2027.

Who was the perfect worth choose in Spherical 7?

Miller: CB Toriano Pride Jr. to the Payments at No. 220. Delight has glorious pace (ran a 4.32 40 on the mix) and size on the cornerback place. He confirmed starter-level tape at Missouri, however his method was a bit inconsistent and he often would chunk on fakes. However he’s nice worth in Spherical 7.

Reid: RB/WR Eli Heidenreich to the Steelers. Among the finest moments of Day 3 was when the previous Navy playmaker was chosen at No. 230. He is a shifty runner who could make defenders miss in house. He’ll probably have to begin out as a core particular groups participant as he tries to search out his long-term position on offense.

What’s your favourite prospect-to-team match?

Miller: OT Francis Mauigoa to the Giants at No. 10. The Giants wanted a proper deal with who can open lanes within the run sport and in addition preserve quarterback Jaxson Dart clear. Not overthinking this choice and drafting the perfect offensive lineman within the class is a win on worth, nevertheless it’s additionally an incredible scheme match with John Harbaugh decided to ascertain the run.

Reid: OT Blake Miller to the Lions at No. 17 was a completely good match. With longtime left deal with Taylor Decker now gone and All-Professional proper deal with Penei Sewell doubtlessly transferring to left deal with, Miller is a plug-and-play starter on the fitting facet in Detroit.

Which choose stunned you essentially the most?

Miller: WR Caleb Douglas to the Dolphins at No. 75 total. Douglas was ranked No. 244 on my board. And whereas particular person rankings can range from group boards, no membership I polled had Douglas ranked inside the highest 100. Miami wants receivers, and there was an elite run of them drafted on Day 2, however Douglas was the most important attain of the primary three rounds primarily based on consensus rankings.

Reid: QB Drew Allar going to the Steelers at No. 76. It wasn’t a lot the player-to-team match nevertheless it was extra the truth that Allar was picked as QB4 and went means earlier than passers comparable to Cole Payton and Garrett Nussmeier.

What’s the greatest QB touchdown spot past Mendoza to the Raiders?

Miller: Carson Beck with the Cardinals. The shortage of a franchise quarterback in Arizona makes this type of an apparent choose, however Beck can be a implausible scheme match with what Mike LaFleur desires to do with a timing-based passing assault. I am not saying Beck will turn into the long-term starter, however he has a shot.

Reid: Nussmeier with the Chiefs. Whereas it took a lot longer than expected, Nussmeier went to Kansas Metropolis at choose No. 249 and will get an opportunity to be taught below coach Andy Reid. With Patrick Mahomes recovering from an ACL injury, Nussmeier has an opportunity to compete with Justin Fields for important reps in coaching camp.

What’s the most questionable QB touchdown spot?

Miller: Taylen Green to the Browns. Inexperienced is a implausible all-around athlete with a uncommon mixture of arm power and working potential, and he is a positive slot in Todd Monken’s offense. The query right here is why the Browns felt the need so as to add a quarterback. Inexperienced joins a depth chart that options Deshaun Watson and two draft picks from final 12 months (Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel).

Reid: Athan Kaliakmanis to the Commanders and Behren Morton to the Patriots. I used to be stunned that each bought drafted. Them coming off the board earlier than Nussmeier or Luke Altmyer, who would have been higher choices at these draft slots, was extremely questionable.

Which group ought to have addressed — or higher addressed — the QB place?

Miller: That is the primary 12 months in latest reminiscence the place I’ve no complaints about the place the quarterbacks have been drafted or how groups attacked the necessity. We should keep in mind the 2027 class is predicted to reflect the 2024 class, with a possible for 5 – 6 Spherical 1 passers.

Reid: The Packers often take a QB through the late rounds, so I am stunned they did not choose one contemplating this was a draft to discover a long-term backup. However with solely six picks, they elected to not add to their QB room that is not precisely safe on the backup spots (Desmond Ridder and Kyle McCord) after dropping Malik Willis in free agency.

Which group produced your favourite class?

Miller: The Raiders. Positive, it is simple to nail the draft when you’ve got the No. 1 overall pick, and that performs into this, however I beloved how the Raiders addressed wants of their secondary with McCoy, Treydan Stukes, Dalton Johnson and Hezekiah Masses. The secondary has lengthy been a problem, and John Spytek aggressively tried to repair it.

Reid: The Panthers. The worth that Carolina was in a position to get in every spherical was distinctive. Monroe Freeling has the flexibility to be their proper or left deal with of the long run. They proceed to emphasise the trenches by including defensive deal with Lee Hunter in Spherical 2 whereas additionally giving Bryce Young one other playmaker within the third spherical in vast receiver Chris Brazzell II.

Which group produced your least favourite class?

Miller: The Jaguars. Jacksonville did not choose till Spherical 2, however basic supervisor James Gladstone began the category with two gamers who weren’t ranked within the prime 150 of any of our boards. Tight finish Nate Boerkircher was seen as a Spherical 5-6 participant, and defensive deal with Albert Regis was in that very same vary. Given the dearth of early-round picks, it was a tough 12 months for the Jaguars to have wants at edge rusher, security and working again, however utterly ignoring these for consensus reaches on Day 2 was puzzling.

Reid: Exterior of Jacksonville, there actually weren’t every other groups that caught out as making main reaches. But when I had so as to add one other group, it might be the Payments. They waited till Day 3 so as to add a receiver and traded again a number of occasions after they might’ve stayed put and chosen Cooper or Denzel Boston.

Which group checked off essentially the most wants?

Miller: The Jets. No, New York did not draft a quarterback early, nevertheless it crossed off loads of different wants with picks at edge-rusher, tight finish, vast receiver, cornerback, defensive deal with, guard and security to go alongside Day 3 quarterback Cade Klubnik. And the Jets head into the 2027 draft with three first-round picks in tow to get that franchise quarterback.

Reid: The Ravens. That they had large wants at guard, go rusher and vast receiver. They crammed all three in consecutive rounds, including Olaivavega Ioane, Zion Young and Ja’Kobi Lane. I additionally love the additions of CB Chandler Rivers and RB Adam Randall as depth gamers to spherical out their roster.

What was your favourite in-draft commerce?

Miller: The Chiefs moving up to No. 6 to pick out cornerback Mansoor Delane. There was sufficient buzz that the Commanders or Saints would take into account Delane to persuade the Chiefs they needed to be aggressive in transferring up from No. 9 to get him. Desperately needing corners in a draft with just one elite one, it was sensible of them to safe Delane by transferring up three spots.

Reid: The Texans transferring up to select McDonald at No. 36. They did that by leapfrogging the Giants, a group that was more likely to choose him with the very subsequent choose to assist exchange the recently traded Dexter Lawrence II. McDonald might be a commanding presence in the course of Houston’s protection.

What was your least favourite in-draft commerce?

Miller: My least favourite commerce is one that did not occur however ought to have — the Rams wanted to maneuver again from No. 13. If the plan all alongside was to pick out Simpson, they did not want to remain at the 13th pick to do it, particularly since he was unlikely to be chosen till the late 20s. Typically understanding sources is as necessary as getting the participant you need.

Reid: Serving to an intradivision foe won’t ever make sense to me, and that is what the Cowboys did by permitting the Eagles to trade up for Lemon. Aiding Philadelphia in securing one of many prime receivers within the draft is a transfer that I merely do not perceive.

In 5 years, we’re all going to marvel why ___ fell within the draft

Miller: Cooper. It is a head-scratcher that the Indiana receiver fell to the No. 30 choose, and he’ll be a steal if the Jets can work out the quarterback place. Cooper’s potential to make powerful catches with out decelerating is his greatest trait, and he’ll do critical work on beneath routes whereas Wilson retains safeties on their heels.

Reid: McNeil-Warren. I am confused why he fell to the latter a part of Spherical 2. He has good measurement, is flexible on the again finish and has the ball manufacturing to match. He additionally went to the right spot, as Cleveland already has glorious defensive backs, which can free McNeil-Warren as much as put on a number of hats within the secondary.

Make your early name for Offensive Rookie of the 12 months

Miller: Love. The hope with this choose is that the Cardinals will use Love because the No. 1 again and never have him break up too many carries with Tyler Allgeier. If Love is given the reps he deserves because the No. 3 choose, he has the instruments as a runner and receiver to build up the required numbers to take house the trophy.

Reid: Tate. Three of the previous 5 Offensive Rookie of the 12 months award winners have been receivers, and I feel that pattern will proceed. The previous Ohio State receiver steps right into a scenario the place he will be requested to be the main receiver instantly. Tate’s ability set aligns effectively with quarterback Cam Ward‘s urge for food for attacking down the sector.

Make your early name for Defensive Rookie of the 12 months

Miller: Downs. He’ll have loads of alternatives to make huge performs as an overhang security in Christian Parker’s protection. Downs’ soccer IQ, instincts and skill to learn quarterbacks will give him the interception and go breakup numbers you must win awards.

Reid: Edge David Bailey. I consider the No. 2 choose goes to be a relentless terror off the sting. Do not be stunned if he will get double-digit sacks throughout his rookie season.

Predict one rookie (apart from Love) who will win you fantasy leagues in 2026

Miller: Tate. The Titans’ first-rounder went to a touchdown spot the place he can really emerge because the WR1. Calvin Ridley and Wan’Dale Robinson is perhaps in place, however Tate will get a giant share of the targets instantly due to his potential to win excessive and separate with vertical stretch potential.

Reid: Jadarian Price. With Kenneth Walker III gone, Worth steps into an enormous void left within the Seahawks’ offense. Worth is not going to solely be a menace working the ball, however he has proven that he is a flexible choice as a go catcher and return specialist, too.

Name your shot: The place will Love rank amongst fantasy working backs in 12 months 1?

Miller: Fifth. Robinson, Christian McCaffrey, Barkley and Jahmyr Gibbs are locks within the prime 5 if wholesome, however Love is on par with every of those backs as a three-down asset.

Reid: Fourth. Robinson, Gibbs and McCaffrey are the clear prime three, however Love might be slotted as excessive because the RB4 spot, as he might be essentially the most potent playmaker on the Cardinals’ offense.

Title one developmental choose to observe

Miller: LB Kyle Louis to the Dolphins. A rangy, lively, versatile playmaker with expertise at security and linebacker, Louis was a steal at No. 138. He and Jacob Rodriguez signify Miami’s future at linebacker as new coach Jeff Hafley appears to be like for rather more pace in the course of the protection.

Reid: LB Jake Golday to the Vikings. He will not play a ton early on in his profession due to a crowded depth chart, however Golday has the right defensive coordinator to unlock his ability set in Brian Flores. Search for huge issues in 2027 and past.

Make one prediction about this class for 5 years from now

Miller: The 2026 class would be the one which places the Bears excessive and right into a Tremendous Bowl. Quarterback Caleb Williams is the primary motive for the Bears’ success, however including security Dillon Thieneman and cornerback Malik Muhammad satisfies large wants within the secondary, whereas heart Logan Jones might be Williams’ new greatest buddy and bodyguard.

Reid: This class might be recognized for the offensive deal with expertise that it produced. Seven offensive tackles have been drafted within the first spherical, and all landed in perfect spots for them to play early of their careers. Anticipate a number of of those gamers to be long-time starters.

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