Grading the 1st Round of the NFL Draft
Night one of the NFL Draft is over, so it's time to grade every pick.
A tale as old as time...grading draft picks prematurely without any knowledge of how each teams draft board looks.
But who cares, we're high off draft night!
Without further ado, let's grade each pick from the 1st Round!
1). Las Vegas Raiders - Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana University
GRADE: A
There's nothing else to say, we've known this for months. A fantastic pick. Las Vegas has built up a decent support system around Mendoza, who has the size and arm to be a legit NFL QB. Time to see what he can do with Klint Kubiak.
2). New York Jets - David Bailey, DE, Texas Tech University
GRADE: B+
Bailey's limitations have been widely discussed - can he survive on run downs, is the athleticism there, etc. But this is a massive upgrade for New York's defense, a proven pass rusher with elite college production. Their 2025 pass rush was pathetic, this was an easy solution.
3). Arizona Cardinals - Jeremiyah Love, RB, University of Notre Dame
GRADE: C+
Love is arguably the best player in the draft, but I have so many problems with this pick. Arizona's RB room is crowded, the offensive line is not in ideal shape, the defense isn't good, and now the RB room has a ridiculous amount of resources poured into it without having a franchise QB. A great player, but this makes no team building sense for Arizona. Just bad business in my opinion.
4). Tennessee Titans - Carnell Tate, WR, The Ohio State University
GRADE: B
Help for Cam Ward has arrived! I can't say I, or anybody, expected this selection, but I really like it! Is Tate the caliber of prospect worthy of 4th overall? Maybe not, but he's a good player and a perfect weapon for Cam Ward. All of a sudden, Tennessee has a good WR room and a great deep threat for their franchise QB.
A defensive selection would have been a cherry on top and made their defense fantastic, but you had to help out Cam Ward, and did so beautifully.
5). New York Giants - Arvell Reese, LB, The Ohio State University
GRADE: B+
An incredible player with so much talent, and great potential at edge. But you didn't help your young QB? And added a player to an already crowded edge room? This is taking the best player available, and I can be on board with that. Harbaugh is making the decisions here, and I think we could see Reese play some off ball LB in New York.
TRADE!
The Cleveland Browns have traded the 6th overall to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Full Terms: Pick 6 in exchange for Pick 9 + 74 + 148
6). Kansas City Chiefs - Mansoor Delane, CB, Louisiana State University
GRADE: B
A trade up for Kansas City, they hop a pair of teams to replace Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson. I don't love giving up assets when you have so many needs that could have been filled at 9th overall(EDGE, S, CB, OL, WR), but Delane is a rock solid CB prospect. Kansas City got aggressive for a good prospect that's an immediate starter for them.
7). Washington Commanders - Sonny Styles, LB, The Ohio State University
GRADE: A+
A picture perfect player for Dan Quinn, Styles is the cherry on top of the defensive overhaul for Washington this offseason. I can not believe Styles fell right into their lap, there was no better pick for Washington.
8). New Orleans Saints - Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State University
GRADE: A-
The only reason this isn't an A+ is because of Tyson's injury history. He's a clear WR1 type of player, with athleticism, size, body control, hands, it's all fantastic. Tyler Shough is the happiest man alive after Thursday. The Saints WR2 before the draft was Devaughn Vele, now it's Tyson. Great work from New Orleans.
9). Cleveland Browns - Spencer Fano, OL, University of Utah
GRADE: B+
Cleveland trades down, gets more capital, and still had first dibs on the offensive line class. Fano is a great player, athletic and praised for his potential versatility. He could be a starting option anywhere for Cleveland. My issue is, does Cleveland have a LT yet? And Fano does not fit among the big and powerful theme of who the Browns brought in on their OL this offseason.
10). New York Giants - Francis Mauioga, OL, University of Miami
GRADE: B+
A pick to help out your QB and run game. Mauioga will start out at guard for the Giants, and John Harbaugh is living out his word of building through the trenches. It's a great selection, as New York had one of the worst interior OLs headed into draft night.
TRADE!
The Miami Dolphins have traded the 11th overall to the Dallas Cowboys.
Full Terms: Pick 11 in exchange for Pick 12 + 177+ 180
11). Dallas Cowboys - Caleb Downs, S, The Ohio State University
GRADE: A
A safety falling, a tale as old as time. Dallas moves just two 5th round picks to ensure they can slide up and get their guy. Downs is an elite prospect and this could not have gone better for Dallas. Downs is such a clean and ready made player for new DC Christian Parker to utilize in the secondary.
12). Miami Dolphins - Kadyn Proctor, OL, University of Alabama
GRADE: C
This grade is mostly because of the trade and who was available. I assume Proctor will be a guard for Miami, already having Patrick Paul at LT. So Miami passed up Caleb Downs, Vega Ioane, and Rueben Bain Jr to select Proctor. Not a fan. There was no reason to add capital when you already had 12 selections.
13). Los Angeles Rams - Ty Simpson, QB, University of Alabama
GRADE: D
The Rams were a muffed punt away from the Super Bowl, were blessed with a top 15 pick thanks to a 2025 draft day trade, and decided to use that pick to take a backup QB. That's laughable. And I don't like this for Simpson either! He's thrown 523 passes since high school, he needs to actually play football.
14). Baltimore Ravens - Olaivavega Ioane, LG, Penn State University
GRADE: A-
We've talked about this fit for months at this point. A ready made Pro Bowl guard to protect Lamar Jackson for the rest of this career. Even after losing an All-Pro center in free agency, the Ravens have rebuilt their interior OL to protect Lamar. There may have been another pick I would have preferred here, but you can not complain about Ioane.
15). Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Rueben Bain Jr, DE, University of Miami
GRADE: A
Absolutely fantastic that Bain fell straight into Tampa's lap at 15. They're biggest need was an edge rusher, and ended up with one of the best players in the entire class. A strong pass rusher for the Bucs defense could not have been a better fit.
16). New York Jets - Kenyon Sadiq, TE, University of Oregon
GRADE: B
An incredible athlete, the Jets land who I assume is their top pass catcher remaining. I think the fit with Garrett Wilson could be great, but NY does have Mason Taylor, a 2025 2nd rounder who was good as a rookie. Interesting selection, but they get an athletic freak, we'll have to see how they use him.
17). Detroit Lions - Blake Miller, RT, Clemson University
GRADE: B+
I got this selection correct! Here's what I said about Miller to the Lions:
The Lions have been open about their need for another tackle to bookend with Penei Sewell. And they have also expressed they would be happy with Sewell moving to LT. Miller is the most experienced tackle in the class, with 54 starts and having just turned 22 years old. If his play strength wasn't questioned, he would be the most coveted tackle in this class.
18). Minnesota Vikings - Caleb Banks, DT, University of Florida
GRADE: C+
Biggest shocker of Round 1? I love Banks in Minnesota, probably the picture perfect guy to be on the interior of Brian Flores' defense. They've been lacking this in years past. However, using your 1st round pick on a 330lb man with multiple foot issues, including one that occurred in February, is dangerous.
19). Carolina Panthers - Monroe Freeling, LT, University of Georgia
GRADE: B
I like Freeling as a prospect, the potential is incredible because of his size and athleticism, and he clearly improved in the second half of 2025. And going to Carolina allows him to not have to start right away. Maybe he can learn RT too. The Panthers now have 4 tackles on their roster, which is good, because the future of the position was murky before Freeling.
TRADE!
The Dallas Cowboys have traded the 20th overall pick to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Full Terms: Pick 20 + 2027 7th rounder in exchange for Pick 23 + 114 + 137
20). Philadelphia Eagles - Makai Lemon, WR, University of Southern California
GRADE: A
I absolutely love the fit of Lemon with Devonta Smith in Philadelphia. Trading up above teams that were definitely in the WR market to come up and get your guy is fantastic work, especially with A.J Brown seemingly on his way out. The only imperfection with this pick might be the QB in Philadelphia, who is not exactly a timing thrower over the middle of the field, where Lemon excels.
21). Pittsburgh Steelers - Max Iheanachor, RT, Arizona State University
GRADE: B+
The Steelers prioritizing trenches, a tale as old as time. Iheanachor is raw, but has high level athleticism and elite feet. He could start at RT for Pittsburgh, with Troy Fautanu sliding over to LT, where he played in college. Pittsburgh filling a hole on the OL is not a bad thing.
22). Los Angeles Chargers - Akheem Mesidor, DE, University of Miami
GRADE: A-
The age turns this A into an A-. But forget the age, this is a ready made pass rusher who has great versatility on the front. The Chargers needed depth at EDGE and a long term plan at the position. Mesidor provides both here, I love the pick for Los Angeles.
23). Dallas Cowboys - Malachi Lawrence, EDGE, University of South Florida
GRADE: B-
I like the player, but I am not sure I love the fit. Is Lawrence big or powerful enough to play across from 2025 2nd rounder Donovan Ezeiruaku, a smaller edge? I’m not sure. Lawrence pass rush will automatically upgrade the Dallas defense though. Great work from Dallas on night one.
24). Cleveland Browns - KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M University
GRADE: B
I love Concepcion for the same reason everyone does. He is electric with the ball in his hands. But does Cleveland need another quick guy with inconsistent hands? They need a guy who is a reliable target for whoever is at QB. Not saying Concepcion can’t be that, but he kind of fits the mold of what they already have.
25). Chicago Bears - Dillon Thieneman, S, University of Oregon
GRADE: A-
An incredible player, but we are not surprised a safety fell this far. Chicago somehow lost both of their starting safeties from 2025 and yet upgraded at the position this offseason. Thieneman and Coby Bryant are a perfect mesh with each other in Chicago’s defensive backfield.
TRADE!
The Buffalo Bills have traded the 26th overall pick to the Houston Texans.
Full Terms: Pick 26 + 91 in exchange for Pick 28 + 69 + 167
26). Houston Texans - Keylan Rutledge, RG, Georgia Tech
GRADE: B-
Houston jumps up to grab a rock solid guard. The question is, does he start Day 1? They signed veteran LG Wyatt Teller, and extended RG Ed Ingram to bigger money. So where does he fit in? Can Rutledge play center for Houston, is he starting over a veteran, or is he redshirting? I love the player though.
TRADE!
The San Francisco 49ers have traded the 27th overall pick to the Miami Dolphins.
Full Terms: Pick 27 + 138 in exchange for Pick 30 + 90
27). Miami Dolphins - Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State University
GRADE: B+
Miami slides up a few spots to grab a CB for their barren secondary. Johnson is a perfect guy for new HC Jeff Hafley, a great run defender and zone coverage CB. He’s immediately the best player in the Dolphins secondary.
TRADE!
The Buffalo Bills have traded the 28th overall pick to the New England Patriots.
Full Terms: Pick 28 in exchange for Pick 31 + 125
28). New England Patriots - Caleb Lomu, OT, University of Utah
GRADE: B-
The Patriots move up and grab an OT. Where will he play on the OL? I'm not sure he's a high enough level run blocker to be a guard. Lomu is young, so I assume the plan is for him to be a swing tackle and prepare to be the RT of the future. Not a bad pick, planning for Drake Maye’s future.
29). Kansas City Chiefs - Peter Woods, DT, Clemson University
GRADE: B
Kansas City sits at 29 and adds to the defensive line. This was a necessary addition. You have to hope they have a plan for what weight he will play at, but Kansas City is a great defense for Woods to just line up and attack. My question here is, who is playing edge? KC has spent a decent amount of resources at DT now, but only have one starter on the edge.
TRADE!
The San Francisco 49ers have traded the 30th overall pick to the New York Jets.
Full Terms: Pick 30 in exchange for Pick 33 + 179
30). New York Jets - Omar Cooper Jr, WR, Indiana University
GRADE: B+
The Jets pick up another pass catcher, this one more necessary, in my opinion. WR2 has arrived, a guy who can align anywhere and is great after the catch. With the Sadiq selection, it brings up the question of how the Jets will run their offense. Is Cooper an outside WR, Sadiq in the slot? Or will we see lots of 12 personnel? Regardless, the Jets have set their offense up to benefit their future QB.
TRADE!
The Buffalo Bills have traded the 31st overall pick to the Tennessee Titans.
Full Terms: Pick 31 + 69 + 165 in exchange for Pick 35 + 66 + 101
31). Tennessee Titans - Keldric Faulk, DE, Auburn University
GRADE: B-
The Titans jump up for Robert Saleh to get his defensive end. I imagine Faulk will be a run stuffing edge who can rush from the interior, and with the Titans current defensive line, he won't have a huge role right away. They can figure out how to use him. The concern here is that Faulk does not have a great get-off, which is fairly crucial for Saleh's wide nine scheme.
32). Seattle Seahawks - Jadarian Price, RB, University of Notre Dame
GRADE: B
Anybody who is surprised by GM John Schneider taking a RB with their top pick is a fool. But truly, I like this pick. I like the player in general, but also in this Seattle offense. And he is immediately the starter for the Seahawks. A team that won the Super Bowl because of their RB can't go into the season with Emmanuel Wilson as their starter.
My only negative is that they couldn't trade back. Seattle now only has picks 64, 96, and 188. Not ideal.
I'm sure all these grades will be a 100% accurate portrayal of all these prospects' careers.
And remember, teams have more than one pick. Taking the better prospect in the 1st round is typically the best move, you don't have to fill your biggest need.
Day 2 is upon us, and I can not wait!
Stay tuned for more NFL and 49ers articles, news, and opinions!
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