2026 NFL Draft team grades: Live updates for all 32 teams as Round 1 unfolds

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.

Using an internal formula based on our analysts' individual pick grades, we will hand 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 handles Rounds 1–3, while Josh Edwards takes over for Rounds 4–7.
Here are our team-by-team grades for the 2026 NFL Draft.

2026 NFL Draft essentials

• Live draft blog: Rumors, trades and picks in real time
• Interactive draft tracker: Filter every pick by round, team, position and more
• Round 1 pick grades: Full breakdowns for every first-round selection
• Full draft order: All 257 picks by team

Arizona Cardinals -- C+

Selecting a running back 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.

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens -- A

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 for Baltimore as it enters the Jesse Minter era, and it kicked off the new age with a home-run pick that addresses that 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.

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns -- A+

Shoring up the offensive line is a necessity if the Browns are ever to develop a franchise quarterback. Renner says they got the cleanest offensive line prospect in the draft, so filling a need with such an elite talent makes the pick an unquestionable "A+." It would not have been a surprise to see Cleveland use its first pick on a wide receiver, but there will be skill position standouts to be had further down the board.

Dallas Cowboys -- A

The talk of draft season was that the Cowboys would trade up if one of their favorite defensive prospects was there for the taking. Caleb Downs remaining on the board outside the top 10 was the catalyst for a transaction with the Dolphins, and it's not a bad deal whatsoever for Jerry Jones, who moved up a spot and still retained the second of the team's two first-round picks.

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs -- B-

The mass exodus from Kansas City's 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.

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.

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams -- A

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

Renner is high on Simpson, though, and tabbed this 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."

Miami Dolphins -- A+

Miami signed what might be its franchise quarterback in Malik Willis in free agency, and now it has added protection for him. Kadyn Proctor 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 the right weight. If Miami gets the best version of him, he can stick at left tackle and become a building block of this rebuild.

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

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.

New York Giants -- A

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.

The only team with two top-10 picks came out of the first round a big winner.

New York Jets -- C+

Jets fans ought to have mixed feelings about how the first round unfolded. Yes, New York got a ready-made weapon on the edge with the second pick. Yes, they landed the best tight end in the class and one of the most gifted athletes the position has ever seen. But did either pick truly move the needle enough for a franchise that so desperately wants to climb out of the basement?

Renner noted that the Jets already have an edge defender with inconsistent run-stopping skills in Will McDonald IV, so adding another one in David Bailey might not raise the defense's ceiling to as great an extent as some think. Also, Kenyon Sadiq is now the second tight end the Jets have selected in as many years after they took Mason Taylor in the 2025 second round.

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- A+

Arm length is the only knock against Rueben Bain Jr. but 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 pick at the edge rusher spot, that did not 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 greatest weakness, which is disrupting opposing quarterbacks.

Tennessee Titans -- B

It is no surprise to see Carnell Tate go in the top 10, but few would have thought the Titans would be the team to grab him. That does not make it a bad pick for Tennessee, though. With Jeremiyah Love off the board, the Titans switched their focus from running back to wide receiver in the search for weapons to pair with Cam Ward. That's precisely what they got in Tate, who could be 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 with letting him walk. There is always a positional value discussion to be had 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.