With the 2026 draft complete, theScore's senior NFL writer Dan Wilkins hands out his initial grades for each team's incoming rookies.
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Grade: B
This class is exactly what the Texans needed. The Keylan Rutledge pick was a little early for my liking, as he was No. 47 overall on my board. But I'm a big fan of his powerhouse skill set at guard, and I appreciate Houston's continued efforts to solidify the offensive line. Any perceived reach in that spot also became much easier to live with when the Texans snagged a consensus first-round talent at No. 36. Adding Kayden McDonald to this defensive line should strike fear into opposing offenses. His ability to single-handedly shut down the run game on the inside should create more opportunities for Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter to go to work in the passing game. The rest of this group is mostly depth pieces, so the final grade isn't overly flattering, but Marlin Klein is one to watch. His blocking skills should get him on the field early, and his athleticism gives him some untapped upside as a receiver.
Grade: B+
This is the first of two consecutive years in which Indy doesn't have a first-round pick due to the Sauce Gardner trade. For a team with several glaring needs, it must have felt like a long wait for Day 2. I think the Colts made the best of the situation, though. CJ Allen, seen by many as a borderline first-round talent, was a steal at No. 53. A physical and athletic linebacker who plays with great instincts, the Georgia standout profiles as a high-level starter in the NFL. I thought the A.J. Haulcy pick was great value as well. His physicality and processing skills made him the No. 4 safety and No. 50 overall player on my board. Jalen Farmer is a powerful guard prospect who provides important depth and competition on the inside, and Bryce Boettcher's abilities as a rangy, run-and-chase linebacker could make him an interesting long-term fit to solidify the position alongside Allen. My only gripe: I think the Colts really could have used another premium investment at receiver to round out a group headlined by Alec Pierce and Josh Downs.
Grade: D+
This is a wildly difficult class for me to grade. On one hand, the Jaguars came away with countless players I'd identified as sleepers and personal favorites. Nate Boerkircher, Albert Regis, Jalen Huskey, Wesley Williams, and Tanner Koziol were all on my "hidden gems" list. The only problem? I envisioned them as value picks coming off the board several rounds later than they did. As much as I like each of those players, Jacksonville's draft felt like one reach after another. Emmanuel Pregnon is perhaps the lone exception: I saw the Oregon product as a potential first-round talent who was going to slide specifically because he turns 25 in October. Getting a potential Day 1 starter at guard in the third round is undeniably great value. The rest of Jacksonville's process was severely lacking in that regard.
Grade: B+
I wasn't surprised by the Carnell Tate pick at No. 4. In fact, that's exactly what I had the Titans doing in my final mock draft. It's not perfect value, but it's tough to argue with adding a potential No. 1 receiver to help Cam Ward's development heading into Year 2. Industry concerns about Keldric Faulk's pass-rush upside seemed significantly overstated, overlooking the fact that he's an impressive athlete who could quickly become an elite run defender. I think he's a steal to round out Robert Saleh's reshaped defensive front. And the Titans' new head coach also got his lead in the middle with Anthony Hill Jr. at No. 60. The depth of this class isn't great, but the three early picks should join a big group of free-agent additions as this new era gets underway in Tennessee.
