2026 NFL Draft grades, tracker: Rams earn high mark with selection of Ty Simpson

Mike Renner grades the first 32 picks of the 2026 NFL Draft

Mike Renner

Apr 23, 2026

11:17 pm ET

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11 min read

Keytron Jordan, CBS Sports Design

The first round of the 2026 NFL Draft is in the books and what a wild one it was on Thursday night, especially if you were a Bills fan waiting for your team to pick (they kept trading down and finally out of the first round).

Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza going No. 1 to the Las Vegas Raiders was expected, but there were a few surprises along the way. Ohio State safety Caleb Downs fell to 11, where the Dallas Cowboys scooped him up. The Los Angeles Rams pulled a bit of a shocker by selecting Alabama QB Ty Simpson with the No. 13 pick.

The Jets ended up with three picks and vastly improved their roster.

Be sure to refresh this page throughout the weekend to get all the latest grades. If you want to do all that plus track the best available prospects and get access to every pick in the draft on one page, you can with our interactive draft tracker. This year, my pick-by-pick grades are being used to create real-time team report cards, so keep this page open throughout the weekend.

Grades: Round 1 • Round 2 • Round 3 • Round 4 • Round 5 • Round 6 • Round 7

1. Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

Grade: A

This was a no-brainer. Mendoza was the best quarterback in college football last season. That was especially the case under pressure and in clutch situations. He's a perfect fit for Klint Kubiak's offense.

2. Jets: David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech

Grade: C-

Bailey is a solid pass-rusher who will give less athletic offensive tackles fits at the next level. He's a hot-and-cold run defender, though, who struggles to set the edge. The Jets, unfortunately, already have one of those in Will McDonald

3. Cardinals: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

Grade: C+

Love is a special talent at the running back position and will immediately transform the Cardinals rushing attack. This grade isn't an indictment of the caliber of player the Cardinals got, but the value for a team not built to contend without a quarterback. They'll burn the most productive and cheap years for a player at a position with an already short career length.

4. Titans: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

Grade: B

Tate is exactly what the Titans don't have on their roster: a rangy outside receiver with elite hands and crisp route-running chops. He'll be a Cam Ward favorite from Day 1. While he doesn't fit the physical profile of a usual top-5 pick at receiver, beggars can't be choosers.

5. Giants: Arvell Reese, EDGE, Ohio St.

Grade: A+

The Giants just became the scariest edge-rushing group in the NFL and truthfully it's not even close. Their third down packages are going to be a true sprint to the quarterback. Reese has special play strength for someone with 4.46 speed. And he's only scratching the surface at 20-years old.

6. Chiefs: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

Grade: B-

Delane is the safest pick at corner in this draft class. If you can do what he did in the SEC last season, you can produce in the NFL. It's more the desperation of having to give up a third-rounder to do so that bumps this down. It's a position that historically teams have been able to find later in the draft as the Chiefs themselves know well.

7. Commanders: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio St.

Grade: A

One of the least athletic front-sevens in the NFL a season ago completes their makeover with one of the most athletic linebackers in draft history. His ability to cover ground in coverage at his size is nothing short of special. He'll allow Dan Quinn so much flexibility on the defensive side of the ball.

8. Saints: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State

Grade: B+

Tyson got the best tape grade from me of all the receivers. His size, movement skills, and body control are that of a No. 1 receiver. And he's the one receiver in the draft class that was truly treated as such by his offense as Arizona State went his way in every big situation. I can't give it an A, though, because of his injury history as he missed time in all four of his collegiate seasons.

9. Browns: Spencer Fano, OL, Utah

Grade: A+

Fano is the cleanest offensive lineman in the draft class. He pairs high-end athleticism with technical prowess and strong hands. He's an elite zone blocker who has the size to play anywhere along the offensive line if needed. His arm length may scare some off, but it was never a massive issue for him on tape.

10. Giants: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami

Grade: A-

The Giants lock in the missing piece to their starting five with Mauigoa. He'll kick inside to right guard for now, where he'll be a butt-kicker in the run game. His ability to move people off the line of scrimmage is special for a player who hasn't even turned 21 yet. Jaxson Dart is somewhere celebrating.

11. Cowboys: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio St.

Grade: A

The much-maligned Cowboys secondary got a m