2026 Draft Grades For Each NFL Team By Division: AFC

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA – APRIL 23: A screen shows Fernando Mendoza of Indiana after being selected first overall by the Las Vegas Raiders during Round One of the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium on April 23, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images)

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The 2026 NFL Draft is complete. There were winners and losers. Heisman finalist Diego Pavia became the first finalist since 2014 who was not drafted. Quarterback Ty Simpson vaulted his consensus status and was drafted 13th by the Los Angeles Rams.

Some teams drafted with a win-now mentality, while other teams were building a foundation for 2027 and beyond. But how did the teams within their respective divisions fare? Let’s begin by looking at the runner-ups AFC.

AFC East

Home of the runner-up to the Super Bowl Champions, the AFC East has two teams in rebuild and two teams that are Super Bowl or bust for the upcoming season.

New York Jets: Pre-Draft Needs: QB, WR, EDGE, CB, LB

The Jets finished the draft with eight total picks, three of which were first-round picks. And while the landing spots did not do much for fantasy football. The picks will provide an upgrade to a team that was 31st in sacks (26), 32nd in interceptions (0), 29th in total points scored per game (17.6), and whose tight ends had the second-fewest receiving yards (593) and tied for the fewest touchdown catches (2).

R1 P2, Edge, David Bailey, Texas Tech

R1 P16, TE, Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon (pick acquired from Sauce Gardner trade with Indianapolis)

R1 P30, WR, Omar Cooper, Jr, IU

R2 P50, CB, D’Angelo Ponds, IU

R4 P103, DT, Darrell Jackson Jr., FSU

R4 P110, QB, Cade Klubnik, Clemson

R6 P188, G, Anez Cooper, UMiami

R7 P228, S, VJ Payne, Kansas State

GRADE A

New England Patriots: Pre-Draft Needs: EDGE, OL, LB, WR, TE, Safety

The Patriots finish the draft with nine total picks. The Super Bowl runner-ups needed help on the offensive line, a replacement for Stefon Diggs, and help to correct their 31.1% pressure rate, which was 21st in the league last season.

R1 P28, OT, Caleb Lomu, Utah

R2 P55, Edge, Gabe Jacas, Illinois

R3 P95, TE, Eli Raridon, Notre Dame

R5 P171, DB, Karon Prunty, Wake Forest

R6 P196, OT, Dametrious Crownover, Texas A& M

R6 P212, LB, Namdi Oloiazor, TCU

R7 P234, QB, Behren Morton, Texas Tech

R7 P245, RB, Jam Miller, Alabama

R7 P247, LB, Quintayvious Hutchins, Boston College

GRADE B

Buffalo Bills: Pre-Draft Needs: LB, WR, EDGE, CB

The Bills, after trading back three times, finished the draft with 10 picks, although none in the first round. The Bills are in a Super Bowl or Bust season. Their free agent acquisition of wide receiver D.J. Moore from the Chicago Bears was a start, but they still entered the receiver-heavy draft needing a bit more help for 30-year-old quarterback Josh Allen.

R2 P35, Edge, T.J. Parker, Clemson

R2 P62, CB, Davison Igbinosun, OSU

R4 P102, OT, Jude Bowry, Boston College

R4 P125, WR, Skylar Bell, UConn

R5 P167, S, Jason Kilgore, South Carolina

R5 P181, DT, Zane Durant, PSU

R7 P220, CB, Toriano Pride Jr., Missouri

R7 P239, P, Tommy Doman, Florida

R7 P241, G, Ar’Maj Reed-Adams, Texas A&M

GRADE B-

Miami Dolphins: Pre-Draft Needs: WR, EDGE, CB, RT, Safety (EVERYTHING)

The Dolphins entered the draft with 13 picks, including two in the first round. After releasing receiver Tyreek Hill and trading receiver Jaylen Waddle, they needed receiver help for newly signed quarterback Malik Willis. Their defense finished last season 27th in rushing yards allowed per game (132.4), 16th in sacks (39), and 23rd in interceptions (9), making secondary and defensive line help also a need.

R1 P12, OT, Kadyn Proctor, Alabama

R1 P27, CB, Chris Johnson, San Diego State

R2 P43, LB, Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech

R3 P75, WR, Caleb Doublas, Texas Tech

R3 P87, TE, Will Kacmarek, OSU

R4 P130, Edge, Trey Moore, Texas

R4 P138, S, Kyle Louis, Pitt

R5 P158, S, Michael Toaffe, Texas

R5 P177, WR, Kevin Coleman Jr., Missouri

R5 P180, TE, Seydou Traore, Mississippi State

R6 P200, G, D.J. Campbell, Texas

R7 P233, Edge, Max Llewellyn, Iowa

GRADE C

AFC EAST

The Jets may have propelled themselves ahead of Miami, and the Patriots look to maintain the status quo. The draft in the AFC East was about two teams rebuilding, looking towards the future,e one team trying to maintain 2025 momentum, and one team desperately trying to get over the playoff hump. Look for the Jets to be the surprise in the East, which could just mean surpassing expectations.

AFC West

The AFC West looks to be the fight of the 2026 season. The Kansas City Chiefs are looking to regain dominance, the Denver Broncos are looking to retain the title, and the Las Vegas Raiders are looking to shock the world. Will the Los Angeles Chargers be the team outside looking in?

Las Vegas Raiders: Pre-Draft Needs: QB, DT, OL, WR, CB

The Raiders were abysmal in every way last season. From their 5.0 yards per dropback (28th), to their last place in the NFL in points per game (14.2), yards per game (247), and plays per game (55.8). Their defense allowed 25.8 points per game (25th) while collecting only eight interceptions (27th) and 37 sacks (19th). So, the Raiders entered the draft with 10 total picks and the first pick of the draft.

Bold prediction: Maxx Crosby will be Defensive Player of the Year 2026.

R1 P1, QB, Fernando Mendoza, IU

R2 P38, S, Treydon Stukes, Arizona

R3 P67, Edge, Keyron Crawford, Auburn

R3 P91, C Trey Zuhn, Texas A&M

R4 P101, CB, Jermod McCoy, Tennessee

R4 P122, RB, Mike Washington, Arkansas

R5 P150, S, Dalton Johnson, Arizona

R5 P175, CB, Hezekiah Masses, California

R6 P195, WR, Malik Benson, Oregon

R7 P229, DT Brandon Cleveland, NC State

GRADE A-

Los Angeles Chargers: Pre-Draft Needs: Guard, Edge, Safety, LB, DT

The main goal for the Chargers is to keep quarterback Justin Herbert safe. Last season, he was sacked 54 times. The offensive line (which was without its two premier offensive linemen for most of the season) had a league low 53.9% pass block win rate. Depth at the offensive line position would be nice. The Chargers went into the draft with eight picks.

R1 P22, Edge, Akheem Mesidor, University of Miami

R2 P63, C, Jake Slaughter, Florida

R4 P105, WR, Brenen Thompson, Mississippi State

R4 P131, S, Genesis Smith, Arizona

R5 P145, DT, Nick Barrett, South Carolina

R6 P202, G, Logan Taylor, Boston College

R6 P206, G, Alex Harkey, Oregon

GRADE B-

Denver Broncos: Pre-Draft Needs: OL, LB, CB

The Jaylen Waddle trade with the Miami Dolphins was essentially the Broncos ‘ first-round selection. After that, replacing defensive end John Franklin-Myers and finding a reliable running back to add to the loaded running back room were necessities. With seven picks and the first one coming in the third round, it was quality over name recognition.

R3 P66 DT, Tyler Onyedim, Texas A&M

R4 P108 RB, Jonah Coleman, Washington

R4 P111, OT, Kage Casey, Boise State

R5 P153, TE, Justin Joly, NC State

R7 P246, S, Miles Scott, Illinois

R7 P256, TE, Dallen Bentley, Utah

R7 P257, LB, Red Murdock, Buffalo

GRADE C

Kansas City Chiefs: Pre-Draft Needs: Edge, CB, WR, DT, TE, OL

The Chiefs found themselves in unfamiliar territory, picking in the top-10 with two picks in the first round, with their quarterback rehabbing from a knee injury, offensive weaponry questions, and their secondary depleted by free agency losses. They finished with seven picks in the draft.

R1 P6, CB, Mansoor Delane, LSU

R1 P29, DT, Peter Woods, Clemson

R2 P40, Edge, R Mason Thomas, Oklahoma

R4 P109, S, Jadon Canady, Oregon

R5 P161, RB, Emmett Johnson, Nebraska

R5 P176, WR, Cyrus Allen, Cincinnati

R7 P249, QB, Garrett Nussmeier, LSU

GRADE C-

AFC SOUTH

The AFC South is littered with teams that were “full of potential” and then lost momentum at the end of the season or got spanked in the playoffs. And oh, there is Tennessee with new head coach Robert Saleh, definitely making a statement to be included in the conversation.

Tennessee Titans: Pre-Draft Needs: WR, Edge, G, C, LB

Last season, rookie quarterback Cam Ward’s receiving weapons were: team-leading receiver, tight end Chig Okonkwo with 560 yards, who is no longer there; veteran receiver Calvin Ridley, who played in only seven games and had 17 receptions; and Day 3 rookie receivers Elic Ayomanor (515 yards) and Chimere Dike (423 yards).

R1 P4, WR, Carnell Tate, OSU

R1 P31, Edge, Keldric Faulk, Auburn

R2 P60, LB, Anthony Hill Jr., Texas

R5 P142, G, Fernando Carmona, Arkansas

R5 P165, RB, Nicholas Singleton, PSU

R6 P184, DT, Jakie Marshall, Baylor

R6 P194, C, Pat Coogan, IU

R7 P225, TE, Jaren Kanek, Oklahoma

GRADE B

Indianapolis Colts: Pre-Draft Needs: Edge, WR, LB, Safety, OL

The Colts will enter the 2026 with questions: a quarterback depth chart that shows the first two quarterbacks injured, who will replace Michael Pittman, and how they will fix an offensive line that was 30th in pass rush win rate at 29.1%. They had no pick in the first round due to the Sauce Gardner trade with the Jets, leaving them with eight picks, the majority coming in Day 3.

R2 P53, LB, CJ Allen, Georgia

R3 P78, S, A.J. Haulay, LSU

R4 P113, G, Jalen Farmer, UK

R4 P135, LB, Bryce Boettcher, Oregon

R5 P156, Edge, George Gumbs Jr., Florida

R6 P214, Edge, Caden Curry, OSU

R7 P237, RB, Seth McGowan, UK

R7 P254, WR, Deion Burks, Oklahoma

GRADE B-

Houston Texans: Pre-Draft Needs: OL, DT, LB

While the offensive line was revamped in free agency, and the Texans acquired running back David Montgomery, adding depth with their eight picks could have been a priority.

R1 P26, G, Keylon Rutledge, Georgia Tech

R2 P36, DT, Kayden McDonald, OSU

R2 P59, TE, Marlin Klein, Michigan

R4 P106, G Febechi Nwaiwu, Oklahoma

R4 P123, LB, Wade Woodaz, Clemson

R5 P141, S, Kamari Ramsey, USC

R6 P204, WR, Lewis Bond, Boston College

R7 P243, LB, Alden Fisher, IU

GRADE C

Jacksonville Jaguars: Pre-Draft Needs: LB, DT, RB, Safety

The Jaguars did not have a pick in the first round due to moving up to acquire Travis Hunter in the 2025 NFL Draft. They did have 11 picks to replace linebacker Devin Lloyd and running back Travis Etienne Jr.

R2 P56, TE, Nate Boekircher, Texas A&M

R3 P81, DT, Albert Regis, Texas A&M

R3 P88, G, Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon

R3 P100, CB, Jalen Huskey, Maryland

R4 P119, Edge, Wesley Williams, Duke

R5 P164, TE, Tanner Koziol, Houston

R6 P191, WR, Josh Cameron, Baylor

R6 P203, WR, OJ Williams, Stanford

R7 P233, Edge, Zach Durfee, Washington

R7 P240, LB, Parker Hughes, Middle Tennessee

AFC North

The AFC North has three new head coaches. Two perennial playoff teams stuck in a playoff loop, quarterbacks Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson, one abysmally poor defense, two defenses that are meh, and the Cleveland Browns.

Cleveland Browns: Pre-Draft Needs: LT, WR, DT, Safety, G, CB

The Browns played the third-most offensive line positions last season. They had 14 different offensive line combinations in at least 10 snaps. They also rotated two rookie quarterbacks, and their best receiver was rookie tight end Harold Fanin Jr. Their receivers were the worst in the NFL in receptions (117), yards (1467) and touchdowns (4).

They had 10 picks including two in the first round.

R1 P9, OT, Spencer Fano, Utah

R1 P24, WR, KC Concepcion, Texas A&M

R2 P39, WR, Denzel Boston, Washington

R3 P86, OT, Austin Barber, Florida

R5 P146, C, Parker Brailsford, Alabama

R5 P149, LB, Justin Jefferson, Alabama

R5 P170, TE, Joe Royer, Cincinnati

R6 P182, QB, Taylen Green, Arkansas

R7 P248, TE, Carsen Ryan, BYU

GRADE A

Baltimore Ravens: Pre-Draft Needs: G,C, TE,WR, Edge, CB, DT

The Ravens’ defense finished 28th in pass rush win rate (29.9%) and in sacks (30). Their star quarterback was sacked 36 times in 13 games and they lost star center Tyler Linderbaum in free agency. They finished the draft with 11 picks.

R1 P14, G, Olaivavega Ioane, PSU

R2 P45, Edge, Zion Young, Missouri

R3 P80, WR, Ja’Kobi Lane, USC

R4 P115, WR, Elijah Sarratt, IU

R4 P133, TE, Matthew Hibner, SMU

R5 P162, CB, Chandler Rivers, Duke

R5 P173, TE, Josh Cuevas, Alabama

R5 P174, RB, Adam Randall, Clemson

R6 P211, P, Ryan Eckley, Michigan State

R7 P250, DT, Rayshaun Benny, Michigan

R7 P253, G, Evan Bernsten, Northwestern

GRADE A-

Cincinnati Bengals: Pre-Draft Needs: DB, Slot Receiver, OL

The Bengals’ defense gave up a league high 6.2 yards per play and were 30th in points allowed per game (28.9). They did not have a first round pick due to the trade for Dexter Lawrence, which gave them seven total picks in the draft.

R2 P41, Edge, Cashius Howell, Texas A&M

R3 P72, CB, Tacario Davis, Washington

R4 P128, C, Connor Lew, Auburn

R4 P140, WR, Colbie Young, Georgia

R6 P189, C, Brian Parker, Duke

R7 P221, TE, Jack Endries, Texas

R7 P226, DT, Landon Robinson, Navy

GRADE B

Pittsburgh Steelers: Pre-Draft Needs: QB, G, Slot Receiver, CB, Safety

Another year another season the Steelers are held captive without a franchise quarterback waiting for the decision of 42-year old Aaron Rodgers. They have 10 picks in the draft.

R1 P21, OT, Max Iheanachor, ASU

R2 P47, WR, Germie Bernard, Alabama

R3 P76, QB, Drew Allar, PSU

R3 P85, CB, Daylen Everette, Georgia

R4 P121, WR, Kaden Wetjen, Iowa

R5 P169, TE, Riley Nowakowski, IU

R6 P210, DT, Gabriel Rubio, Notre Dame

R7 P224, S, Robert Spears-Jennings Oklahoma

R7 P230, RB, Eli Heidenreich, Navy

GRADE B-

AFC Draft Grades

Once again the difference between fantasy and reality rears its pretty lil head. We are trepeditious regarding the weapons the Browns acquired for fantasy football purposes. However, there is little doubt that they should help the team be respectable in the AFC North. While the Jets made a swing for the fences in the AFC East, the consensus is it may have them jump the Dolphins but the Patriots and Bills still reign supreme. The AFC West promises to be a shoot-out with the Raiders coming out of the draft and free agency a-blazing. And the AFC South is anybodies guess as the Jaguars draft was quizzical and the Texans’ best pick up was a defensive tackle.