Prisco's NFL Draft 2026 grades for every team, including best and worst picks for all 32 franchises

The dynasty is over. The Kansas City Chiefs, as we've known them for much of the past decade, are done.

>Maybe that iteration of the Chiefs is done, but the new version might be even better -- provided Patrick Mahomes comes back from his torn ACL as the same superstar.

>The reason is simple: The Chiefs just crushed the NFL Draft. In doing so, they earned the only A+ grade I am giving out. Let's just say I loved their draft.

>The Chiefs had to get better on defense. If Mahomes is banged up early and can't be the same Mahomes right out of the gate, the defense and the running game have to be good. They signed running back Kenneth Walker as a free agent to help the run game and then loaded up on defense in the draft.

>With their first three picks, they landed the best cover corner in the draft in Mansoor Delane, a power defensive tackle in Peter Woods, a player I loved, and the captain of my "Better-Than Team" in Oklahoma edge R Mason Thomas.

>Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has to be one happy man. He is one of the best coordinators in the league, and getting these three guys will enhance his ability to call a defense. When Mahomes is Mahomes again is still up in the air, but the new-look defense can carry them early this season if he isn't quite all the way back. Then, look out.

>The Chiefs' dynasty is done? Maybe that old version. But 2.0 is going to push for Super Bowls once again, thanks to a great draft, the best of any team this year.

>Best Pick: Fourth-round defensive tackle Kaleb Proctor from Southeastern Louisiana is an undersized inside player, but he can move. He impressed against LSU last year and should be a nice rotational piece inside.

>Worst Pick: Jeremiyah Love is a good player. Maybe even special. But the value of taking a running back third overall must be questioned. The cost is high, and the careers are usually shorter.

>The Skinny: Aside from taking a running back too high, they delivered a nice draft. Getting guard Chase Bisontis in the second, quarterback Carson Beck in the third and Proctor in the fourth were solid choices to go with Love.

>Best Pick: Third-round receiver Zachariah Branch can flat out fly. He isn't a big receiver, but he will give the offense some real juice in the passing game. He can also help in the return game.

>Worst Pick: Depending on legal issues, it could be the trade they made with this year's first-round pick to get back into the first round last year to take James Pearce Jr. He's a good player, but he has some legal problems to work through.

>The Skinny: Without a first-round pick, it's hard to be excited. But taking Avieon Terrell in the second and Branch in the third gives them two players I liked.

>Best Pick: It was their first one, Penn State guard Olaivavega Ioane. He was the best offensive lineman in this class. Landing him at No. 14 will prove to be a major steal.

>Worst Pick: I didn't love the pick of USC receiver Ja'Kobi Lane in the third round. There were better options out there.

>The Skinny: Vega will be a clear hit, but the rest of the draft comes with questions. They better hope second-round edge Zion Young can contribute right away.

>Best Pick: Fourth-round receiver Skyler Bell isn't a big receiver, but he can get separation and should push for time as a rookie. He did have some trouble with drops, but he's a good player.

>Worst Pick: This is based on personal preference, but I would have taken R Mason Thomas over T.J. Parker, who the Bills took in the second. He fits better in my book.

>The Skinny: The Bills traded down a few times -- out of the first even -- and added extra picks. I like the strategy. Taking Parker fills a pass-rushing need, and second-round corner Davison Igbinosun won't start right away, but he eventually will. Bell was also a good pick.

>Best Pick: Fifth-round safety Zakee Wheatley was a ball hawk at Penn State who showed up a lot on tape. He isn't a big guy, but he will come up and tackle.

>Worst Pick: I didn't love the choice of Monroe Freeling in the first round. I thought he was a late-first, early-second-round guy. They also don't really need him right now.

>The Skinny: I didn't love Freeling in the first round, but second-round defensive tackle Lee Hunter is a quality player who will add a power presence inside. I also like fifth-round center Sam Hecht.

>Best Pick: It was their first one. Safety Dillon Thieneman will be a big-time player for their defense. Caleb Downs was the best safety in the class, but this kid was right there with him in my book.

>Worst Pick: I didn't like the pick of tight end Sam Roush in the third. Why not take a pass rusher? I know they use 13 personnel a lot, but they had bigger needs.

>The Skinny: I liked their first-round pick, but didn't love what they did with their next three. The offense was a priority in the draft, even if the defense was an issue last year. The defensive line was not addressed in the first six picks.

>Best Pick: Second-rounder Cashius Howell plays with violence, and he's one of the twitchiest edge players in this draft. He will give them a nice player to add to their front.

>Worst Pick: I didn't love Washington corner Tacario Davis in the third. There were better options. He's a good cover player but not a great tackler.

>The Skinny: They addressed defense with their first two picks, which they had to do. The defense will be much better, and Howell will be part of that improvement. Fourth-round center Connor Lew will be a starter in a year.

>Best Pick: Third-round safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren is a big-body player who can do a lot of things. They got great value taking him in the third.

>Worst Pick: After taking offensive lineman Spencer Fano in the first, I didn't like Austin Barber in the third since he will be a swing tackle.

>The Skinny: The Browns have now had two good drafts in a row. This one impressed me. By getting Fano and receiver KC Concepcion in the first, followed by adding a bunch of other good players, the Browns are set up to take a quarterback next year.

>Best Pick: I love edge rusher Malachi Lawrence, whom they took with their second first-round pick. He is an explosive, high-ceiling player. They needed help there.

>Worst Pick: Fourth-round tackle Drew Shelton was a bit of a reach in my book. He's a swing tackle who the team hopes can develop into more.

>The Skinny: The Cowboys killed it with their first three picks. Taking safety Caleb Downs, Lawrence and edge Jaishawn Barham will continue the overhaul of the defense. This is a team that improved greatly on that side of the ball.

>Best Pick: Third-round pick Tyler Onyedim from Texas A&M can help replace John Franklin-Myers, who left for Tennessee in free agency. He will be a rotation player from the start.

>Worst Pick: I didn't like fourth-round back Jonah Coleman as much as some during this process. I thought Nebraska's Emmett Johnson, who went in the fifth round to the Chiefs, was a better option.

>The Skinny: They traded their first-round pick to get receiver Jaylen Waddle, so he is sort of included in this draft. They needed his juice. This draft will be judged on how he plays. I did like the Onyedim pick and linebacker Red Murdock in the seventh as "Mr. Irrelevant."

>Best Pick: Fifth-rounder Keith Abney II is a tough, physical corner who should push for time in the corner mix as a second-year player.

>Worst Pick: I didn't love the pick of tackle Blake Miller in the first round. He wasn't a player I rated as highly as others. They did need a tackle, so I get the selection.

>The Skinny: They badly need Miller and second-round edge Derrick Moore to both be impact players as rookies. They have issues at both spots. Keep an eye on sixth-round defensive tackle Skyler Gill-Howard. He has some pop.

>Best Pick: Third-round defensive tackle Chris McClellan from Missouri is a tough, strong player who will give them some much-needed help inside.

>Worst Pick: Fourth-round EDGE Dani Dennis-Sutton doesn't have a ton of pass-rush pop, which they needed. He is a good run player, which will help in a division with teams who run the football.

>The Skinny: They didn't have a first-round pick because of the trade for Micah Parsons, but they added some solid defensive pieces in second-round corner Brandon Cisse and McClellan. Sixth-round corner Domani Jackson is a guy to watch as well.

>Best Pick: It was their first one, guard Keylan Rutledge. Most will say he was overdrafted, but I loved the way he played. He will add toughness to a line that needed help inside.

>Worst Pick: I didn't love the pick of tight end Marlin Klein in the second. There were better tight end options on the board.

>The Skinny: By taking Rutledge and defensive tackle Kayden McDonald with their first two picks, the Texans got better on both lines. They got meaner, too. Fifth-round safety Kamari Ramsey is an interesting player as well.

>Best Pick: I love the sixth-round pick, Caden Curry. He is an edge rusher who plays with toughness and showed up on tape. He will be a guy to watch as a rotational player.

>Worst Pick: It's not any of the picks, but waiting until the fifth round to address EDGE. They need more production from that group, so that was surprising.

>The Skinny: The Colts didn't have a first-round pick after trading it to the Jets for corner Sauce Gardner. But they did have a lot of picks and focused on defense, taking five of the first six. Second-round linebacker CJ Allen is a big-time thumper.

>Best Pick: I love third-round guard Emmanuel Pregnon from Oregon. He is a mauler in the run game who will push for playing time right away and will be a starter in a year or two.

>Worst Pick: I didn't love the pick of safety Jalen Huskey in the third. He is a future pick who likely won't do anything more than special teams this year. I might have taken a pass rusher in that spot.

>The Skinny: This is a draft that will be ripped by a lot of pundits and fans -- and, for now, probably rightfully so. It wasn't a sexy draft, but they felt they added some toughness to the team. Taking tight end Nate Boerkircher with the 56th overall pick might seem rich, but I liked the player more than most.

>Best Pick: Second-round EDGE R Mason Thomas will add a speed element to a defense that needed it. He is one of my favorite players in this draft.

>Worst Pick: It's hard for me to find one with their group, so I will go with a strategy decision. Why wait until the fifth round to take a receiver? That's nitpicking a bit, but then again, I loved this draft.

>The Skinny: The Chiefs killed this draft. They traded up to land the top corner in Mansoor Delane, then landed defensive tackle Peter Woods later in the first, and followed up with Thomas. It was a great first two rounds.

>Best Pick: Second-round safety-corner Treydan Stukes will be a big-time player, wherever they use him. He was one of my favorite players in this draft.

>Worst Pick: Running back Mike Washington Jr. has some juice to his game, but he doesn't run as physically as some other runners in this draft. Using a fourth-round pick on him wasn't what I would have done.

>The Skinny: This draft will be decided by how well quarterback Fernando Mendoza plays in his career. He was the No. 1 overall pick for a reason. He will be good, but he better be. Stukes was a steal and third-round edge Keyron Crawford has some pop.

>Best Pick: Fifth-round defensive tackle Nick Barrett will add a power element to a defense that needed more of that inside. I was shocked he lasted until the fifth round.

>Worst Pick: Fourth-round safety Genesis Smith of Arizona brings some youth to a group that needs it, but he also has an issue with tackling. That won't work in that defense.

>The Skinny: The Chargers had a Jim Harbaugh-like draft. They got tougher on both lines. Taking edge Akheem Mesidor in the first was a great move, and second-round offensive lineman Jake Slaughter will likely start at guard, even though he will be their center down the road. I liked their draft. You can never go wrong drafting big people.

>Best Pick: Third-round tackle Keagen Trost will likely move inside to guard, where I think he can become a dominant player. He probably won't play a lot this year, but he will start down the road.

>Worst Pick: I didn't like the idea of taking Ty Simpson with the 13th overall pick. It didn't look much like coach Sean McVay did, either. They should have been all-in for Matthew Stafford this year. A receiver?

>The Skinny: This is a year where they seemed to be all-in, with perhaps Stafford playing his last season. But the draft said otherwise. In addition to Simpson, they took tight end Max Klare in the second to add to an already deep room. Their rookies won't help much this year.

>Best Pick: Second-round linebacker Jacob Rodriguez from Texas Tech will prove to be a big-time player on their defense. He has the ball instincts you love for the position.

>Worst Pick: Third-round tight end Will Kacmarek is a good blocker, not a great one, but is limited in terms of his receiving skills.

>The Skinny: Jon-Eric Sullivan had a heck of a draft. I loved the pick of tackle/guard Kadyn Proctor in the first round. They then loaded up on a bunch of good players with their remaining picks. Receiver Caleb Douglas will prove to be a steal.

>Best Pick: Second-round linebacker Jake Golday will likely play on the outside, but a lot of scouts think he could someday play inside. Wherever he plays, he's a tough football player.

>Worst Pick: They took Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks a bit too high. At times, he looked like the next Chris Jones at Florida. But at other times, the inconsistency showed up.

>The Skinny: Without a true GM after the firing of Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, they focused on defense with their first four picks. They landed some good players, but this draft has to be about Banks becoming a dominant inside player.

>Best Pick: Second-round EDGE Gabe Jacas gives them much-needed help. He is a power rusher who needs some refining, but the tools are there.

>Worst Pick: I like Caleb Lomu as a player, but trading up to take a player who was a left tackle when you insist Will Campbell is the left tackle is puzzling. I know they say he can be the right tackle down the road, but he probably won't help this year.

>The Skinny: This is not a draft I loved. Lomu will be a good player, but where and when? Jacas fills a need, but the rest of their draft was underwhelming. Does not taking a receiver mean A.J. Brown is on the way?

>Best Pick: Their first pick, receiver Jordyn Tyson, gives the offense a dynamic playmaker. Only injuries held him back in college. Quarterback Tyler Shough had to love that pick.

>Worst Pick: Third-round tight end Oscar Delp was just OK in my book. I thought they could have addressed other positions there or even a different tight end.

>The Skinny: In Tyson and second-round defensive tackle Christen Miller, the Saints added two players who will make an immediate impact. The rest of their draft wasn't great, although fourth-round guard Jeremiah Wright has a chance to start eventually.

>Best Pick: Landing corner Colton Hood in the second round will prove to be a nice move. They've had some issues taking corners in recent years, but this won't be one of them. He's a good player.

>Worst Pick: I didn't like taking receiver Malachi Fields in the third. I know he's a big-bodied receiver, but he doesn't run that well.

>The Skinny: Landing EDGE/LB Arvell Reese and guard Francis Mauigoa in the first round gives them two immediate starters, and I think Hood will make it three. That's a nice haul. Sixth-round linebacker Jack Kelly is a player to watch down the road.

>Best Pick: Second-round corner D'Angelo Ponds was one of my favorite players in this class. He is small, but feisty. Watch how good he becomes wherever he plays.