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
For a team that didn't have a first-round pick and then traded out of its spot at the end of the second, I actually think the Broncos did quite well. Tyler Onyedim was one of my favorite mid-round targets among interior defensive linemen. His explosiveness, lateral quickness, and pass-rush arsenal could make him a great replacement for John Franklin-Myers on the inside. Jonah Coleman, my No. 4 overall running back, maximizes blocking with great vision and has the contact balance to find extra yards. He could immediately be the short-yardage back in Denver's backfield committee. Kage Casey should be useful depth at tackle, and I love the value of Justin Joly in the fifth round. As a good separator who can win contested scenarios and make plays after the catch, I wouldn't rule out the possibility that he becomes the "joker" Sean Payton hoped he was getting in Evan Engram last year. The lack of top-end talent impacts the grade, but the Broncos did well to find value throughout the draft.
Grade: A-
I hate to break it to those who are sick of the Chiefs, but this is an objectively great draft haul. A small move up the board to get Mansoor Delane on Day 1 is the perfect way to address the cornerback spot after losing both Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson this offseason. The LSU star was my No. 1 corner in this class, and he's got the combination of sticky man coverage and zone instincts to be a shutdown corner in Steve Spagnuolo's defense. I think Peter Woods was absolutely deserving of the top-10 hype he received before a disappointing junior year. His combination of power and movement skills should be a scary addition lined up next to Chris Jones. And while R Mason Thomas may not contribute much in the run game, the explosiveness he provides off the edge could make him an impact player in rotational duties. I also love the move to pair Kenneth Walker III with Emmett Johnson, a supremely creative runner who can also be a weapon in the passing game. My only concern, and the only thing keeping the grade from being a solid A: Are we really going to run it back with this receiving corps again? A veteran trade has to be on the table here.
Grade: A
Raiders fans finally have reason to be excited. Fernando Mendoza, most notably, is a true franchise-caliber quarterback prospect. The Heisman Trophy winner, who led Indiana to a perfect 16-0 season, has all the tools to shine at the helm of Klint Kubiak's offense. Treydan Stukes is a sensational athlete with the instincts and ball skills to parlay his unique movement skills into some ridiculous plays in coverage. Keyron Crawford is an explosive edge rusher who provides some added juice opposite Maxx Crosby, and Trey Zuhn III's athleticism could make him a solid starter at guard in this zone run scheme. That initial haul already had the Raiders well on their way to a strong grade, and then came the Jermod McCoy pick. I'm not a doctor, so I couldn't possibly have a strong take on the reasons he fell as far as he did. For what it's worth, teams are reportedly concerned that he'll need a second knee surgery to replace a bone plug. All I know is that that the Tennessee cornerback, my No. 11 overall player in this class, is an elite talent. If he can overcome the those concerns, the Raiders may come away with the biggest steal of the entire draft. An early investment at receiver would have been an ideal way to improve the supporting cast around Mendoza, but I'm wondering whether there might be a veteran acquisition on the way. Jauan Jennings is still a free agent, and Klint Kubiak was the passing-game coordinator in San Francisco for Brandon Aiyuk's big season back in 2023. Either way, the Raiders just took a significant step in the right direction.
Grade: C-
The first-round pick makes this a bit of a disappointing haul for the Chargers. As much as I like what Akheem Mesidor brings to the table as an explosive and polished pass-rusher off the edge, there are some concerns about the value he provides in the run game. Combine those limitations with the fact that he's already 25 years old and it's difficult to justify the Day 1 draft capital. Jake Slaughter is a decent value in the second round. After playing center at Florida, he should slide into a starting spot at guard. Brenen Thompson is the most exciting addition from this group, as Mike McDaniel surely has big plans for the wideout's best-in-class speed. Keep an eye on Travis Burke, too. One of my favorite sleepers from this offensive line class, the feisty Memphis product should provide key depth as a swing tackle after a year in which both Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt missed extended time with injuries.
