The Draft is over and now it’s time to look back at how each franchise navigated their 2026 roster development. There are some teams that produced an A grade but there are also a few that barely produced a passing grade. I have reviewed each franchise in the AFC and have provided my grade for each below. If you want to see my pre-draft positional rankings, you can find those on SpinnableSports.com. If you’re a baseball fan, then you’ll be excited for our baseball podcast connected to the Spinnable Sports Network. The Power Alley Podcast will focus on all things baseball from the college ranks to MLB and beyond. You can follow The Power Alley Podcast on Twitter/X at @PowerAlleyPod. Football Season is always here and you can get ready for all the action with The Irrational Confidence Podcast (@IRConfidencePod on Twitter / X) and via the Spinnable Sports YouTube Channel.
AS OF APRIL 27TH
BALTIMORE RAVENS:
- OVERALL DRAFT GRADE: A
- TOTAL SELECTIONS: 11
- BEST VALUE SELECTION: CB. CHANDLER RIVERS (5TH RD) — DUKE BLUE DEVILS
- HEAD SCRATCHER: TE. MATTHEW HIBNER (4TH RD) — SMU MUSTANGS
- BEST DAY 3 SELECTION: WR. ELIJAH SARRATT (4TH RD) — INDIANA HOOSIERS
- OVERALL THOUGHTS: The Ravens hit key areas across the team to build depth. The ability to draft 2 starters (IOANE & YOUNG) is huge.
BUFFALO BILLS:
- OVERALL DRAFT GRADE: A+
- TOTAL SELECTIONS: 10
- BEST VALUE SELECTION: EDGE. TJ PARKER (CLEMSON) — 3RD RD
- HEAD SCRATCHER: OT. JUDE BOWRY (BOSTON COLLEGE) — 4TH RD
- BEST DAY 3 SELECTION: WR. SKYLER BELL (UCONN) — 4TH RD
- OVERALL THOUGHTS: Collected a ton of picks by making multiple trades. The Bills were an aging team and this Draft gave them tremendous depth on Defense. Durant, Kilgore and Pride Jr on Day 3 provides a ton of speed.
CINCINNATI BENGALS:
- OVERALL DRAFT GRADE: A
- TOTAL SELECTIONS: 7
- BEST VALUE SELECTION: OL. BRIAN PARKER II (DUKE) — 6TH RD
- HEAD SCRATCHER: TAKING CASHIUS HOWELL OVER CB’S AVIEON TERRELL, D’ANGELO PONDS & BRANDON CISSE OR LB’S CJ ALLEN / JACOB RODRIGUEZ WHEN EDGE ISN’T THE AREA OF NEED.
- BEST DAY 3 SELECTION: C. CONNOR LEW (AUBURN) — 4TH RD
- OVERALL THOUGHTS: The Bengals addressed the Defense and Offensive Line, especially when you factor in Dexter Lawrence being their de facto 1st Round selection. The picks of Colbie Young and Jack Endries are going to pay dividends.
CLEVELAND BROWNS:
- OVERALL DRAFT GRADE: A+
- TOTAL SELECTIONS: 10
- BEST VALUE SELECTION: S EMMANUEL MCNEIL-WARREN (TOLEDO) — 2ND RD AND 58TH OVERALL.
- HEAD SCRATCHER: QB TAYLEN GREEN AND ONLY BECAUSE THEY HAVE A TON OF QUARTERBACKS.
- BEST DAY 3 SELECTION: LB. JUSTIN JEFFERSON (ALABAMA) — 5TH RD
- OVERALL THOUGHTS: The Browns drafted 4 First Rounders in my opinion and upgraded the Offensive Line depth significantly with Fano, Barber and Brailsford.
DENVER BRONCOS:
- OVERALL DRAFT GRADE: C
- TOTAL SELECTIONS: 7
- BEST VALUE SELECTION: TE. JUSTIN JOLLY (NC STATE) — 5TH RD
- HEAD SCRATCHER: DT. TYLER ONYEDIM (TEXAS A&M) — 3RD RD & 66TH OVERALL
- BEST DAY 3 SELECTION: TE. JUSTIN JOLLY (NC STATE) — 5TH RD
- OVERALL THOUGHTS: Yes the Broncos used draft capital to go get Waddle. Outside of that, it just felt like the Broncos were going through the motions in the Draft. All 7 selections are depth players at best but I think Coleman will get into the running back rotation. Considering how close this team is, they are banking on basically the entire 2025 team running it back.
HOUSTON TEXANS:
- OVERALL DRAFT GRADE: B
- TOTAL SELECTIONS: 8
- BEST VALUE SELECTION: DT. KAYDEN MCDONALD (OHIO STATE) — 2ND RD & 36TH OVERALL
- HEAD SCRATCHER: NOT DRAFTING A RUNNING BACK FOR DEPTH BUT ADDING ANOTHER WIDE RECEIVER.
- BEST DAY 3 SELECTION: S. KAMARI RAMSEY (USC) — 5TH RD
- OVERALL THOUGHTS: I would have flipped their first 2 selections but both are talented. The Texans Defense has so much talent and depth.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS:
- OVERALL DRAFT GRADE: B+
- TOTAL SELECTIONS: 8
- BEST VALUE SELECTION: LB. CJ ALLEN (GEORGIA) — 2ND RD & 53RD OVERALL
- HEAD SCRATCHER: NO WIDE RECEIVER UNTIL THE 7TH RD
- BEST DAY 3 SELECTION: WR. DEION BURKS (OKLAHOMA) — 7TH RD
- OVERALL THOUGHTS: The Colts addressed the loss of Franklin with a 10 year starter in CJ Allen. When the Colts trade Kenny Moore II, they can easily plug AJ Haulcy right in as the Nickleback. I would have liked for the Colts to trade Moore and Richardson to acquire more picks to move up for a wide receiver but they are fortunate that Burks fell to them in the 7th.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS:
- OVERALL DRAFT GRADE: D
- TOTAL SELECTIONS: 10
- BEST VALUE SELECTION: OL. EMMANUEL PREGNON (OREGON) — 3RD RD
- HEAD SCRATCHER: TE. NATE BOERKIRCHER (TEXAS A&M) — 2ND RD & 56TH OVERALL
- BEST DAY 3 SELECTION:
- OVERALL THOUGHTS: The pick of Boerkircher at 58TH Overall with McNeil-Warren (S), Anthony Hill Jr (MLB), Max Klare (TE), Romello Height (Edge), and AJ Haulcy (S) still on the board among others might come back to haunt GM James Gladstone. Overall, this is a very unimpressive class that is going to require a lot of overachieving. This less than impressive class also puts more pressure on Travis Hunter to deliver in Year 2.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS:
- OVERALL DRAFT GRADE: A
- TOTAL SELECTIONS: 7
- BEST VALUE SELECTION: QB. GARRETT NUSSMEIER (LSU) — 7TH RD
- HEAD SCRATCHER: N/A
- BEST DAY 3 SELECTION: RB. EMMETT JOHNSON (NEBRASKA) — 5TH RD
- OVERALL THOUGHTS: The Chiefs Defense received a significant boost with the selections of Delane, Woods, Thomas and Canady. They selected arguably the best Corner and Defensive Lineman in the Draft.
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS:
- OVERALL DRAFT GRADE: A+
- TOTAL SELECTIONS: 10
- BEST VALUE SELECTION: CB. JERMOD MCCOY (TENNESSEE) — 4TH RD
- HEAD SCRATCHER: NOT ADDRESSING THE OT OR WR POSITION EARLY IN THE DRAFT.
- BEST DAY 3 SELECTION: RB. MIKE WASHINGTON JR (ARKANSAS) – 4TH RD
- OVERALL THOUGHTS: The Raiders might have drafted 4 starters for the 2027 season and being a year ahead is good. The combination of Jeanty and Washington Jr will really help Mendoza and the Offensive Line. The Raiders Defense has a done a full 180 on paper since January.
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS:
- OVERALL DRAFT GRADE: B
- TOTAL SELECTIONS: 8
- BEST VALUE SELECTION: DB. GENESIS SMITH (ARIZONA) — 4TH RD
- HEAD SCRATCHER: NOT ADDRESSING THE WIDE RECEIVER POSITION EARLIER. WISHED THEY TRADED UP INTO THE 3RD ROUND FOR BRAZZELL II, BRANCH, OR BELL.
- BEST DAY 3 SELECTION: DB. GENESIS SMITH (ARIZONA) — 4TH RD
- OVERALL THOUGHTS: The Chargers really weren’t flashy and just kind of went through the motions. This team is a playoff contender but it feels like they just missed going the extra step to help their franchise Quarterback.
MIAMI DOLPHINS:
- OVERALL DRAFT GRADE: A
- TOTAL SELECTIONS: 13
- BEST VALUE SELECTION: LB. KYLE LOUIS (PITT) — 4TH RD
- HEAD SCRATCHER: OT KADYN PROCTOR AT 12TH OVERALL SEEMED VERY HIGH AND A REACH.
- BEST DAY 3 SELECTION: LB. KYLE LOUIS (PITT) — 4TH RD
- OVERALL THOUGHTS: The Dolphins have concerns across the roster and they addressed a lot in the Draft. I love the selections of Johnson, Rodriguez, Bell, Moore, Louis, Taaffe and Coleman Jr.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS:
- OVERALL DRAFT GRADE: C
- TOTAL SELECTIONS: 9
- BEST VALUE SELECTION: EDGE. GABE JACAS (ILLINOIS) — 2ND RD & 55TH OVERALL
- HEAD SCRATCHER: ALL SELECTIONS AFTER THE 2ND ROUND.
- BEST DAY 3 SELECTION: LB. NAMDI OBIAZOR (TCU) — 6TH RD
- OVERALL THOUGHTS: The Patriots have many areas to address and it felt like they punted the Draft after selecting Jacas. The drama around Vrabel and the rumors about acquiring AJ Brown add more ominous clouds to the team.
NEW YORK JETS:
- OVERALL DRAFT GRADE: A+
- TOTAL SELECTIONS: 8
- BEST VALUE SELECTION: CB. D’ANGELO PONDS (INDIANA) — 2ND RD & 50TH OVERALL
- HEAD SCRATCHER: SELECTING TE KENYON SADIQ AT 16 WITH OTHER MORE CRITICAL AREAS IN NEED OF IMPROVEMENT.
- BEST DAY 3 SELECTION: DL. DARRELL JACKSON JR (FSU) — 4TH RD
- OVERALL THOUGHTS: The Jets drafted very well. I like the boldness of the Sadiq pick and it does add a threat to the offense. This is a good building block for the franchise after an abysmal 2025.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS:
- OVERALL DRAFT GRADE: C
- TOTAL SELECTIONS: 10
- BEST VALUE SELECTION: CB. DAYLEN EVERETTE (GEORGIA) — 3RD RD
- HEAD SCRATCHER: OT MAX IHEANACHOR AT 21ST OVERALL WAS A PANIC PICK AFTER THE MAKAI LEMON DEBACLE. THEN FOLLOWED THAT WITH REACH PICKS ON BERNARD AND ALLAR.
- BEST DAY 3 SELECTION: RB. ELI HEIDENREICH (NAVY) — 7TH RD
- OVERALL THOUGHTS: The Steelers underwhelmed with most of their picks. Did these selections truly help them get over the 9-8 / 8-9 mediocrity hurdle?
TENNESSEE TITANS:
- OVERALL DRAFT GRADE: B+
- TOTAL SELECTIONS: 8
- BEST VALUE SELECTION: RB. NICHOLAS SINGLETON (PENN STATE) — 5TH RD
- HEAD SCRATCHER: CARNELL TATE AT 4TH OVERALL WHEN HE’S THE 4TH BEST OHIO STATE PROSPECT IN THE DRAFT IS A REACH!
- BEST DAY 3 SELECTION: RB. NICHOLAS SINGLETON (PENN STATE) — 5TH RD
- OVERALL THOUGHTS: There’s a lot of pressure on Carnell Tate to produce massive numbers and very quickly. I really like the Faulk and Hill Jr selections, especially in Robert Salah’s Defense.
