2026 NFL draft: Analysis of every pick for all 32 teams
Get insights on all 32 teams' 2026 draft picks from our NFL Nation reporters.
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The 2026 NFL draft began Thursday night in Pittsburgh with the Las Vegas Raiders making former Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza the No. 1 pick.
NFL Nation's team of reporters is providing insights on every draft pick throughout the three-day event. Plus: We have updated depth charts for all 32 teams.
Jump to a team: ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND JAX | KC | LAC | LAR | LV | MIA | MIN NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF SEA | TB | TEN | WSH
AFC East
Buffalo Bills
With three first-round trades Thursday night, the Bills did not have a selection and now will turn their focus toward the No. 35 pick in Friday's second round.
Buffalo's full selection of picks Bills depth chart Miami Dolphins
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The Dolphins drafted offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor with the No. 12 selection after trading the 11th pick to the Cowboys. Then, they selected cornerback Chris Johnson No. 27 overall. Consistency will be key for Proctor, the Alabama product who was viewed as a potential top-five pick entering the 2025 college football season.
Analysis of every Dolphins pick from Marcel Louis-Jacques Dolphins depth chart New England Patriots
Games are won up front and the Patriots made a solid move to give up a fourth-round pick (125) to move from No. 31 to 28 to ensure they landed their last first-round-caliber tackle in Utah's Caleb Lomu before a notable drop-off at the position. Lomu, 21, will likely become the immediate swing tackle behind Will Campbell (left) and Morgan Moses (right).
Analysis of every Patriots pick from Mike Reiss Patriots depth chart New York Jets The New York Jets made three picks in the first round, drafting edge rusher David Bailey (Texas Tech) at No. 2, tight end Kenyon Sadiq (Oregon) at No. 16 and wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. at No. 30. The Jets passed on the ultra-talented and versatile Arvell Reese to take the most accomplished pass rusher in Bailey -- a decision that will be scrutinized for years.
Analysis of every Jets pick from Rich Cimini Jets depth chart
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens
There's a reason why Olaivavega Ioane (No. 14 overall) is the first interior lineman ever to be drafted in the top half of the first round by the Ravens. Baltimore's theme this offseason is: Protect quarterback Lamar Jackson. The Ravens used their first pick on Ioane, who is considered the top guard in this draft. Baltimore will make a significant upgrade by plugging Ioane at left or right guard.
Analysis of every Ravens pick from Jamison Hensley Ravens depth chart Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals are scheduled to make the No. 41 selection in the second round on Friday night after trading away their first-round pick to the Giants for Dexter Lawrence II.
Cincinnati's full selection of picks Bengals depth chart What to know for the NFL offseason • Free agent class ranks | Signing grades • Kiper's new mock | Best draft prospects • Coach hirings | Draft order | See more
Cleveland Browns
The Browns traded the No. 6 pick to the Chiefs and selected Utah offensive tackle Spencer Fano at No. 9. With their second first-round pick, the Browns drafted Texas A&M wide receiver KC Concepcion at No. 24. The left tackle is a position that has plagued the Browns' offense over the past few years, and Fano will help overhaul the line. Cleveland needed to upgrade its wide receiver room, and Concepcion is a dynamic playmaker who will compete for a starting spot.
Analysis of every Browns pick from Daniel Oyefusi Browns depth chart Pittsburgh Steelers The Steelers had their sights on wide receiver Makai Lemon when the Eagles jumped them to snag the USC product. As a result, Pittsburgh quickly pivoted to draft an offensive lineman in Max Iheanachor at No. 21 overall who doesn't have extensive experience playing the sport but has huge upside.
Analysis of every Steelers pick from Brooke Pryor Steelers depth chart
AFC South
Houston Texans
The Texans made their first pick at No. 26 after trading up two slots to select guard Keylan Rutledge (Georgia Tech). Texans general manager Nick Caserio said Rutledge has an "elite" makeup and was the one prospect that all the scouts were unanimous on.
Analysis of every Texans pick from D.J. Bien-Aime Texans depth chart Indianapolis Colts
The Colts are scheduled to make their first pick at No. 47 overall in Friday night's second round.
Colts' full selection of picks Colts depth chart Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars don't have a first-round draft pick after trading it to the Browns in last year's draft. They will make their first pick in Friday night's second round at No. 56 overall.
Jaguars' full selection of picks Jaguars depth chart Tennessee Titans The Titans drafted Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate at No. 4 and Auburn edge rusher Keldric Faulk at No. 31. Tate is the highest-selected receiver in Titans history, beating 2017 No. 5 pick Corey Davis. Coach Robert Saleh likes long players to play on the edge, and Faulk fits the bill at 6-foot-5, 276 pounds.
Analysis of every Titans pick from Turron Davenport Titans depth chart
AFC West
Denver Broncos
The Broncos are scheduled to make seven of the draft's 257 picks, beginning with the No. 62 selection (coming in the second round on Friday night).
Denver's full selection of picks Broncos depth chart Kansas City Chiefs
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The Chiefs selected LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane with the No. 6 pick. Then, they selected Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods at No. 29. The Chiefs are confident Delane can be a star defender, the player expected to replace All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie, who was traded just seven weeks ago to the Rams. With star lineman Chris Jones at age 32, Woods should find a willing mentor in the Chiefs' best defensive player.
Analysis of every Chiefs pick from Nate Taylor Chiefs depth chart Las Vegas Raiders
Quarterback Fernando Mendoza joining the Raiders with the No. 1 pick felt like a foregone conclusion after he led Indiana to a national championship victory over Miami. He has the size and frame at 6-foot-5, 225 pounds to be an NFL quarterback. He is accurate and is a good decision-maker, which are two traits that Raiders coach Klint Kubiak wants from a quarterback.
Analysis of every Raiders pick from Ryan McFadden Raiders depth chart Los Angeles Chargers At 25, Akheem Mesidor is an older rookie, which is a part of why he was available for the Chargers at No. 22, but he has the talent to be a player who can contribute quickly. Edge was among the Chargers' biggest needs after Odafe Oweh's departure in free agency, and Mesidor projects to fill that void.
Analysis of every Chargers pick from Kris Rhim Chargers depth chart
NFC East
Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys selected safety Caleb Downs (Ohio State) with pick No. 11 and defensive end Malachi Lawrence (UCF) at No. 23 in Round 1. Downs, who can fill a role as a slot player, was one of the 12 players the Cowboys had a first-round grade on entering the draft. The trade for Rashan Gary helped the front seven, but Lawrence will have the opportunity to be more than a situational pass rusher.
Analysis of every Cowboys pick from Todd Archer Cowboys depth chart New York Giants
The Giants needed to add quality players to their defense, and linebacker Arvell Reese fits the bill as they drafted him with the No. 5 pick. And New York did its best to support quarterback Jaxson Dart with the team's second pick of Thursday night when it selected offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa.
Analysis of every Giants pick from Jordan Raanan Giants depth chart Philadelphia Eagles
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• Scouts Inc. | Best at every position • Kiper's Big Board | Miller's top 481 • Reid's top 499 | Yates' top 150 • QB Hot Board | Legwold's top 100
The Eagles traded up to pick No. 20 in the first round in order to draft wide receiver Makai Lemon out of USC -- a move made in advance of A.J. Brown's expected departure. The 2025 Biletnikoff Award winner as the nation's top receiver, Lemon posted 150-plus receiving yards in four games this past season -- the most by a USC player since Drake London in 2021.
Analysis of every Eagles pick from Tim McManus Eagles depth chart Washington Commanders The Commanders selected Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles with the No. 7 pick. Washington gets a player who can impact the middle of its defense -- and then some. As one AFC defensive coach said: You can plug Styles into the middle for the next 10 years.
Analysis of every Commanders pick from John Keim Commanders depth chart
NFC North
Chicago Bears
The Bears drafted a safety with a first-round pick for the first time since taking Mark Carrier in 1990, because they see a player in Dillon Thieneman (No. 25) who checks all the boxes. Explosive? Check. Plays fast? Check. Obsessed with football and high character? Check and check.
Analysis of every Bears pick from Courtney Cronin Bears depth chart Detroit Lions
The Lions have added what they hope is another foundational player with Blake Miller, who is Detroit's first offensive lineman selected in the opening round (No. 17) since taking All-Pro Penei Sewell as the seventh overall pick in 2021. Miller will be expected to help the team immediately after the unit struggled in 2025, with the second-worst pass block win rate in the NFL (56%).
Analysis of every Lions pick from Eric Woodyard Lions depth chart Green Bay Packers
The Packers will make their first pick at No. 52 in Friday's Round 2.
Green Bay's full selection of picks Packers depth chart Minnesota Vikings Drafting defensive lineman Caleb Banks with the No. 18 pick was a gutsy first selection from longtime team executive Rob Brzezinski, who is serving as the Vikings' interim general manager. Banks is a supremely talented player with elite size and traits. But he has had two injuries in the past year to his left foot, played only three games at Florida last season and is hopeful of being cleared to practice in June.
Analysis of every Vikings pick from Kevin Seifert Vikings depth chart
NFC South
Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons' first selection is the No. 48 pick in Friday's second round.
Atlanta's full selection of picks Falcons depth chart Carolina Panthers
The Panthers drafted Monroe Freeling with pick No. 19 in the first round. Carolina's offensive line had issues in 2025, ranking 23rd in pass block win rate, 28th in run block win rate, and 29th in pressure rate allowed. That made offensive line one of the Panthers' biggest need, and Freeling (6-foot-7, 315 pounds) tested as one of the most physically gifted offensive linemen at the combine and has the prototypical size of an offensive tackle.
Analysis of every Panthers pick Panthers depth chart New Orleans Saints
The Saints picked a player at a position of top need -- wide receiver Jordyn Tyson with the No. 8 pick -- but it comes with a price. Tyson has an extensive injury history (hamstring, ankle, knee and broken collarbone). He's aware of the injury concerns but said that he will do everything in his power to stay on the field this season, including hiring several people who can help take care of his body. Tyson can be paired immediately with the Saints' No. 1 wideout Chris Olave, and he said he can't wait for the possibility to play next to him.
Analysis of every Saints pick from Katherine Terrell Saints depth chart Tampa Bay Buccaneers The Bucs were shocked edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. was still available at No. 15, with Bucs general manager Jason Licht saying, "I've probably never seen a more excited draft room." Bain fits their mold of power and athleticism. He can bend, and as Licht put it, he plays "very edgy."
Analysis of every Bucs pick from Jenna Laine Buccaneers depth chart
NFC West
Arizona Cardinals
Drafting Jeremiyah Love with the No. 3 pick showed that the Cardinals were committed to taking the best player available. Love was widely considered the best prospect in the entire 2026 draft class, and Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort stuck with his plan to take the best players available, even if the selection doesn't fit the team's top needs.
Analysis of every Cardinals pick from Josh Weinfuss Cardinals depth chart Los Angeles Rams
The Rams hope they found Matthew Stafford's eventual successor in Ty Simpson, selecting him with the No. 13 pick they received in their 2025 draft-day trade with the Falcons. By picking Simpson, the Rams addressed a position that wasn't a hole on a roster considered to be a Super Bowl contender in 2026, rather than taking a player who could help immediately.
Analysis of every Rams pick from Sarah Barshop Rams depth chart play 0:17 Why Booger McFarland has doubts over Rams pick Ty Simpson Booger McFarland expresses his concerns over Rams QB pick Ty Simpson.
San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers are scheduled to make the first pick of Friday night's second round after trading back out of the first round.
San Francisco's full selection of picks 49ers depth chart Seattle Seahawks After their attempts to trade out of the first round fell through, the Seahawks stayed put and found their replacement for Kenneth Walker III by drafting running back Jadarian Price at No. 32. There's plenty to like about Price, including his fit in the outside-zone rushing scheme the Seahawks will continue to lean on under new coordinator Brian Fleury.
