2026 nfl draft review. Innovative, accurate!

2026 DRAFT REVIEW:

MY VIEWS ON DRAFT EVALUATION:

 I decided to stay with simple letter grades for rating team picks and overall draft. Everybody understands them, they will range from A+ to F. The ratings are round sensitive, I will use a multiplier each round and for number of picks.  The Draft is one of my primary reasons for this site, for decades I've watched teams make consistent mistakes and all out failures. Every year I still hear some classic cliches and archaic sayings like "you can't teach speed" the ever popular "best player available" and the more recent additions "He had a great Pro Day" or "He blew up the Combine" Following these thought processes consistently blows up in the face of drafting team. If teams would simply draft the best player to fill needs on their team in the proper round draft failures would be minimized. To me the only things that cannot be taught are Height and Heart!! And if you ignore several years of film and game production for a player who tests well in shorts and a t-shirt you deserve what you get! So yes my innovative views on NFL draft coverage differ wildly but watch, yes I miss one now and then but I'll take the pepsi challenge with anybody out there that mine are more accurate. Starting next year I will be doing my version of a nfl mock draft also. Yes it will be different.

PLAYER GRADING:

Factors in grading are. the players draft rating, fit for scheme and lastly need. Some players may receive a higher grade than those with higher Draft Rating due to better scheme fit or filling a primary or secondary need. Points will be lost for drafting players with lower draft ratings than position drafted or questions on scheme fit or need. These decisions are based solely my own judgement and evaluations. I often differ significantly from so called "Experts" and Draft rooms around the NFL; I also will point out organizations for their failures and continued failures. I do not care who doesn't like it, unlike others I will call it just as I see it with 0.0 worry who I offend!!

TEAM DRAFT GRADING:

    My team grading is based on simple math using the initial letter grade and points for a start. I will then add multiplier #1, this is the round sensitive grade, higher rounds receive a higher multiplier and lower receive a lower multiplier, simple enough I believe.  The reasoning for this is higher round picks carry more importance due to talent available and of course Salary Cap implications which can cripple a Franchise. Teams that consistently overdraft limit future movements in Free Agency, also this can limit the Franchise when it comes to the all important 2nd contract for core players. This is often overlooked but a vital component in a successful franchise. Overdrafting in my opinion is the single most overlooked and easily dismissed componant in failing franchises.  In '21  I  added  multiplier#2  this comes from the number of picks a team makes. this multiplier will work both ways. There are 7 rounds so that is the base number, over 7 picks the team will a positive multiplier and under 7 picks a negative multiplier. This will achieve better accuracy as to which team has the true Best Draft.  I've looked at numerous other draft grades from so called "experts" and they are a joke, mostly A's an B's when in reality if you look at history you will find far more average or below average grades after 3 years. My Drafts and grades will be saved in my History section for review after 3 and 5 years, you will not find that information on other sites. NEW  IMPROVED GRADING FOR '22. New for this season, I felt I was in need of some adjustments so I tightened things up just a touch from last season. So after much thought and experimentation. NEW FOR "23. A small change as I went to 3 digits past the decimal for all scores, just more accurate.

My Draft Grades.

TEAM GRADING SCALE

A+ Over 6.00          C+ 3.50 to 3.99      

A    5.75 to 5.99      C    3.00 to 3.49     

A-  5.50 to 5.74       C-  2.75 to 2.99

B+ 5.00 to 5.49       D+ 2.50 to 2.74

B   4.50 to 4.99        D   2.25 to 2.49

B- 4.00 to 4.49        D-  2.00 to 2.24

                   F  0.0 to 2.00    

Base- Is the average of  Player grades. Grades are set by using the following criteria. My rating of the player. How soon the player will be able to contribute. Team need at the position. Fit with the teams coaching and scheme. Players on the board when the pick was made.

Mutiplier #1-Take the picks and add in Multiplier for the round, 1st round highest and so on. The top 3 rounds are by far the most important so they carry the most weight and impact the final score the most. My ratings also reward teams for quality picks in the later rounds but at a much lower rate.

Multiplier #2  This multiplier is much smaller but still very important in determining the top drafts.Take the number of picks overall and add Multiplier #2. 7 round draft so 7 is nuetral, over 7 adds to score under 7 lowers score each pick over or under changes the multiplier. Of course a draft can be made by one pick but teams that year in and year out compete for the title need multiple players from each draft to become starters.

Grade=  Final Grade, Simple enough! 

         FINAL 2026 DRAFT TEAM RANKINGS          

                                                                  Multipliers      Final                               

Rnk    Team         Pks     Base        #1           #2       Grade

TEAM RANKING THOUGHTS:

Well, again this year I'm feeling an adjustment to my grading is in order, NO WAY over half the teams drafted to a B- or better. Look for changes nest season! I have said before, none of the "draft experts" give any team below a C- I only had four this year, NOT ENOUGH!  Well at least I didn't have ALL A's and B's as to not offend anyone. If you go back and look at the majority of the drafts, you will find numerous failures, to be kind! Honestly, close to half the teams FAIL in the draft in most seasons.  Well, I don't care about that, I'm about being honest and RIGHT!!  But for this season I'll stay with what I have and OWN IT unlike any others!                                        

                                                               DRAFT GRADING COMPARISONS

This season I'll begin to compare my grades directly with others in the business so you can all see who is more accurate. I'M CONFIDENT that I will be  at the top, most seasons. Unfortunately, I cannot put Kiper's most recent FAILURE up due to ESPN hiding it on their pay to see list.  I will list by my Rankings 1-32 for easy reference. I will compare grades with these sites

PFF- Pro football focus

NFLCOM.

CBS Sports

Fox Sports                                          

Team                         5Star    PFF  NFL.Com   CBS    FOX     

1.

                       MY TOP AND WORST PICKS IN THE DRAFT.

Year after year NFL execs make massive mistakes in the annual draft. The amount of pure incompetence is amazing and many people are to afraid to point it out, I am not. So here we go.

                                       2026 TOP PICKS

Rk   player                         POS     RND   PK      Team

                                        2026 WORST PICKS

Rk   player                         POS     RND    PK     Team

  EXPLANATION OF OTHER TERMS

BUST ALERT!!! A player highly ranked by many others but one I do hold in the same regard. Also, this term will be used for players who I call "ONE YEAR WONDERS" these players are either freakish athletes or players who had one season that FAR exceeded their previous production creating serious risk. This term will be reserved for 1st round projections where mistakes can cripple a franchise.

OVERRATED ALERT!!! Similar to the above but not as extreme, for after 1st/2nd rounds. Players are not as highly rated so mistakes while still important do not carry the same weight.  There are multiple reasons for this designation some but not limited to character, talent, injuries, college scheme or system.

UNDERRATED ALERT!!! Players I feel deserve a higher ranking than many/most other so called experts. These players in the future will be referred to as "STEALS" but I want it known my evaluation were on point when they were drafted.

SLEEPER ALERT!!!! A player that perhaps played in a poor scheme for his talents, suffered from poor coaching, revolving door coaching, poor supporting cast but has shown flashes that can lead him to success in the proper environment.

POSITION CHANGE ALERT!!! These are players who I feel due primarily to their skill set or more rarely at times measurables  will reach their maximum level of NFL success by changing from their primary College position. 

CHARACTER ALERT!!!  This designation is reserved for players who have had multiple issues concerning there character. This can be legal issues, multiple transfers, poor practice habits, friction with teammates and/or Coaches, Academic issues and or any other infraction that brings into question the players decision making. Teams must weigh the risk/reward related to these players VERY CAREFULLY!! 

INJURY ALERT!!!! A player with serious injury concerns, medicals vital. Possibly multiple injuries while in college or one severe injury. Also, could have a long history in college and even perhaps High School "Injury Prone" is the common term.   If you are missing time on the field, you are costing your team $$$$     

      ROUND ONE 

In round one teams need to draft STARS, long-time starters, plug and play for multiple years. Steer clear of red flags, over drafting, drafting on Combine or ridiculous Pro Day performances and developmental players, DO NOT BELONG IN THIS ROUND!!!  If your 1st round pick does not start or play significant minutes YOU FAILED on numerous levels!!  Not only did you waste a pick that needed to be correct, but you also caused salary Cap implications that can cause long-term and cripple a Franchise for years to come.

 Scoring Explanation                              

A+  5.00      A    4.50      A-   4.00   

B+  3.50      B    3.00      B-   2.75

C+   2.50     C      2.25    C-    2.00   

D+   1.50     D     1.00    D-    .50      

F       .00                                   

Pk      Team                 Name                  Pos         Sch         Grade                                                                                

TOP THREE PICKS:

Rk   player                  POS       PK          Team

WORST THREE PICKS

Rk   player                  POS       PK          Team

 ROUND TWO    

Very close to round one but not as vital, still looking for STARS and STARTERS but players with limited developmental needs can be of value here. Again, watch for over drafting and idiot GM's drafting on measurables and testing performances, these players while perhaps somewhat useful cause a ripple effect within the salary structure that can destroy a team. Still if players in this round do not contribute in some manner in year one, starter, regular  contributing reserve, core Special Teams, YOU FAILED!! 

Scoring Explanation     

A+  5.00      A    4.50       A-   4.00  

B+  3.50      B    3.00       B-   2.75  

C+   2.50     C    2.25       C-    2.00   

D+  1.50      D     1.00      D-      .50  F    .00                                                

Pk      Team                   Name                      Pos      Sch      Grd    

TOP THREE PICKS:

Rk   player                  POS       PK          Team

WORST THREE PICKS

Rk   player                  POS       PK          Team

 ROUND THREE 

Still looking for starters or key reserves at this point, better teams are looking for situational fits and high-level developmental players. Also, players who may not have made the best College choices for their skillset, very talented but had some off the field issues that caused some concern and player who may have some injury red flags.    

Scoring Explanation     

A+  5.00      A    4.50       A-   4.00  

B+  3.50      B    3.00       B-   2.75 

C+   2.50     C    2.25       C-    2.00   

D+   1.50     D     1.00      D-      .50  F    .00                                                

Pk      Team                         Name                 Pos         Sch         Grd

TOP THREE PICKS:

Rk   player                  POS       PK          Team

WORST THREE PICKS

Rk   player                  POS       PK          Team

 ROUND FOUR  

In this round teams should be looking for high level developmental players, situational fits, key reserves, elite Special Teamers. You can find starters that slip through or are not a scheme fit for other teams.

 Scoring Explanation        

 A+  5.00      A    4.50       A-   4.00     F    .00

 B+  3.50      B    3.00       B-   2.75

 C+   2.50     C    2.25       C-    2.00  

 D+   1.50      D     1.00      D-      .50    

 F    .00                                                

Pk       Team                         Name                    Pos        Sch         Grd

TOP THREE PICKS:

Rk   player                  POS       PK          Team

WORST THREE PICKS

Rk   player                  POS       PK          Team

ROUND FIVE

 Another round looking for mid-level developmental players, scheme fits for key reserves, players who can excel on Special teams as well as fill a B/U roll. For sure some starters will come from this round but that is Bonus money.

Scoring Explanation     

A+  5.00      A    4.50       A-   4.00  

B+  3.50      B    3.00       B-   2.75  

C+   2.50     C    2.25       C-    2.00   

D+   1.50     D     1.00      D-      .50   

F    .00                                                

Pk      Team                             Name               Pos        Sch           Grd

TOP THREE PICKS:

Rk   player                     POS       PK          Team

WORST THREE PICKS

Rk   player                  POS       PK          Team

    ROUND SIX 

 In this round teams can go numerous directions with limited risk involved. Looking for former elite recruits who did not live up to hype, developmental prospects with various issues. Players who chose colleges poorly, players that did not fit schemes in college, players who were subject to multiple coaching changes, players with elite measurables but production did not match. Players with questionable character but all the tools to be a star. And last but far from least, looking for core Special Teamers who can contribute in small doses when called upon.

 Scoring Explanation       

A+  5.00      A    4.50       A-   4.00     

B+  3.50      B    3.00       B-   2.75   

C+   2.50     C    2.25       C-    2.00     

D+   1.50     D     1.00      D-      .50        

F    .00                 

Pk      Team                            Name                    Pos         Sch       Grd

TOP THREE PICKS:

Rk   player                  POS       PK          Team

WORST THREE PICKS

Rk   player                        POS       PK          Team

HONORABLE MENTION FOR WORST PICKS:

The Las Vegas Raiders! SERIOUSLY!!

    ROUND SEVEN

In this round much like the 6th players considered for a variety of reasons with even less risk. Looking for former elite recruits who did not live up to hype, developmental prospects with various issues. Players who chose colleges poorly, players that did not fit schemes in college, players who were subject to multiple coaching changes, players with elite measurables but production did not match. Players with questionable character but all the tools to be a star. Also looking for Practice squad candidates with developmental upside.  And last but far from least, looking for core Special Teamers who can contribute in small doses when called upon.

Scoring Explanation      

 A+  5.00      A    4.50       A-   4.00         

B+  3.50      B    3.00       B-   2.75   

C+   2.50     C    2.25       C-    2.00    

 D+   1.50     D     1.00      D-      .50

 F    .00               

Pk      Team                        Name                 Pos          Sch        Grd

TOP THREE PICKS:

Rk   player                  POS       PK          Team

WORST THREE PICKS

Rk   player                  POS       PK          Team