The Post’s Ryan Dunleavy gives his grades for the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Grade A: The Heisman Trophy and national-championship winner was the no-brainer No. 1 pick during the whole process. He makes quick decisions that lead to accurate throws and is at his best in the fourth quarter. And he oozes toughness.
Grade A-: The Jets went with the best pure pass-rusher (29 career sacks) over the versatile weapon Arvell Reese, who was considered more of a high-ceiling projection. Why did the Jets cancel Bailey’s facility visit? Bailey’s first step is lightning quick.
Grade A: Positional value be damned. Love instantly became one of the highest-paid running backs ($50 million guaranteed) in the NFL. So what? He is a home-run-hitting playmaker and franchise identity when both were needed. The Cardinals were hoping for a trade offer.
Grade B: There’s the first wrench thrown into the draft. Head coach Robert Saleh passed on three elite Ohio State defenders to get an Ohio State receiver for young quarterback Cam Ward. Tate was a No. 2 receiver in college (17.2 yards per catch) but he is a clean prospect from Receiver U.
Grade A: He could’ve gone as high as No. 2 to the Jets. Will he make them regret their decision from across town? Reese was a one-year wonder who could play all over the defense. This was John Harbaugh sticking to his “Best Player Available” philosophy.
Grade A: Moving up from No. 9 by giving up a third- and fifth-rounder, the Chiefs decided not to gamble after losing their two starting cornerbacks to the Rams. He allowed zero touchdowns and committed zero penalties last season after transferring from Virginia Tech.
Grade A+: An instant alpha leader, Styles could’ve gone as high as No. 4. Word is that he was head coach Dan Quinn’s coveted target but how did he slip this far? The former safety put together one of the NFL Combine’s best all-time performances.
Grade: A-: The only concern here is a long injury history, including a hamstring that sidelined him for most of the pre-draft process. Tyson is a true No. 1 receiver when he is healthy. He will draw comparisons to a cross between Odell Beckham Jr. and Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
Grade: A-: Credit the Browns for addressing their main need and getting extra picks while doing it. Were they scared off of consensus top offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa because of his back injury? Fano is a downhill run-blocker with five-position flexibility.
Grade B: For a team that has had a lot of frustration with injuries, the Giants took a chance with Mauigoa, who recently had to have a medical recheck for a herniated disc in his back. Will he slide into starting right guard after playing right tackle?
Grade A+: Trading two fifth-rounders to move up one spot, the Cowboys got one of the top-three talents in the class. Safety was devalued, but the Cowboys’ secondary stunk last year. Downs is a chess piece who can cover from the slot, patrol center field or fire down like a missile.
Grade C+: The new regime in Miami wants to be physical, moving away from the high-flying previous era. The 352-pound Proctor sets the tone, even if it means moving Austin Jackson to guard. There’s no lack of power but technique needs refining. A bit of a boom-or-bust element.
Grade B: General manager Les Snead told Simpson’s father that he was a first-round pick before the quarterback entered the draft. Now we know why. Simpson only made 15 career starts and now he be the quarterback-in-waiting behind MVP Matthew Stafford. He doesn’t put the ball in harm’s way.
Grade A-: The Ravens are not about to change their rugged identity just because John Harbaugh is gone after 18 years. He clears out running lanes – Derrick Henry is going to love this pick – and plays with a nasty temperament.
Grade B+: Bain was in the conversation as high as No. 4 because of his inside-outside versatility. The knock on him is his historically short arms. He tallied 20.5 career sacks (33.5 tackles for loss) in his career because he is always hustling.
Grade: B: Didn’t the Jets just draft TE Mason Taylor in the second round last year? Yes, but it’s become a two-tight end league. And Sadiq is the perfect athletic move tight end, who will finish his blocks and make explosive plays. He has to cut down on his drops.
Grade B+: When left tackle Taylor Decker retired, the Lions’ No. 1 need became obvious. Miller made 54 career starts and comes out of central casting for the type of mauler and team-first guy that head coach Dan Campbell covets.
Grade D: Huh? Banks missed all but three games last season because of a foot injury and then broke his foot again in the offseason. Will he be ready for training camp? He made plays in flashes but there were better defensive tackles available and safety Dillon Thieneman fit better.
Grade B: He is a prototypical left tackle who generates movement in the run game and is alert to stunts in pass game. But Freeling only made 18 career starts, with his pass-protection improving game-by-game.
Grade A-: The Eagles, who traded up with the Cowboys, continued to be active refilling their receiver room with the expectation that they will trade A.J. Brown after June 1. Lemon is a physical slot receiver who draws comparisons to Amon-Ra St. Brown.
Grade C: The Steelers still don’t have a starting quarterback (Aaron Rodgers?) but they have a new bookend to protect him. Iheanachor was born in Nigeria and did not play football until junior college. He is a fast learner who solidified his draft status at the Senior Bowl. A reach, perhaps.
Grade A-: The 25-year-old rookie is coming off creating 67 pressures (No. 4 in FBS) last season, including 5.5 sacks in four College Football Playoff games. He also hunted the ball with four forced fumbles. This was good value.
Grade B: Lawrence was one of the biggest risers of the pre-draft process given his athletic testing numbers. Anyone who watched the Cowboys knew that they needed to go defense with both their first-round picks, even with the uncertainty of receiver George Pickens playing on a franchise tag.
Grade: B: The Browns needed to go left tackle and wide receiver in either order. Concepcion’s ability to create yards after the catch and be a dynamic returner allowed the Browns to go with tackle first. Did they try to trade up for Lemon, who would’ve been a home run?
Grade A: A natural free safety with playmaking ability, Thieneman was thought to be a perfect fit for the Vikings. Instead, the Vikings will see him twice per year. He had six interceptions at Purdue in 2023 – a sign of his sideline-to-sideline range.
Grade A-: One year after trading away their first-round pick, Rutledge finishes plays to the whistle or until his defender is on his back. He made 43 career starts at right guard and was called the “toughest player” head coach Brett Key after coached.
Grade A-: The Dolphins traded down one pick to No. 12 and up three to No. 27. Johnson is a physical, tackling cornerback with ball skills, who had four interceptions (two pick-sixes) last season and five career forced fumbles. He was a freak at the NFL Combine.
Grade B: That’s two first-round offensive tackles in two years for the Patriots. The hope is that Lomu plays better as a rookie than Will Campbell. Will Lomu move to the right side or bump Campbell there? Super Bowl 2026 exposed the need for the Patriots to improve the offensive line.
Grade: B+: Considered a potential top-five pick before the season, Woods did not have a productive final season (two sacks). He can provide pass-rush and learn from side-by-side partner Chris Jones. He also had five carries as a short-yardage back – watch out with Andy Reid’s creativity.
Grade A: Just like in 2022, make that three first-round picks for the Jets, who were commonly projected to take Cooper at No. 16 and then traded up from the first pick of the second round to get him. Cooper breaks tackles and is a magician with his boundary footwork. The Jets got faster.
Grade C: The Bills made three trade-downs – the last of which put the Titans back in the first round. Faulk only had two sacks last season. Saleh’s defense requires a deep rotation along the line but he considers himself a master of development and this 21-year-old has upside.
Grade B+: Only two running backs in the first round: Love and Love’s backup at Notre Dame. Price, who replaces departed Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III, had fewer than 300 career offensive touches and adds juice as a kickoff returner.
