* And of course, Dexter Lawrence should be seen as our first round pick as well. 😎

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/draft/2026/04/25/nfl-draft-grades-ranking-classes-2026/89800559007/

4. Cleveland Browns: A

The pre-draft perception – for whatever that’s ever worth – was that the Browns couldn't wait long to get more needed bodies for both the offensive line and the receiver room. Yet GM Andrew Berry, who seemingly hit last year’s draft out of the park, seemed to agree, getting two blockers and two WRs among this first five selections (the fifth guy in that cluster being second-round S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, whom Berry aggressively moved up to rescue at No. 58). But first-round OL Spencer Fano, first-round WR KC Concepcion (obtained thanks to last year’s Travis Hunter deal) and second-round WR Denzel Boston all project as immediate starters for a team that seems similar to the Jets in some respects – amassing talent while determining who the franchise QB is (unless sixth-rounder Taylen Green proves Brady-esque, which he certainly isn’t physically) – though Cleveland’s rebuild seems well ahead of New York’s. Your move, Shedeur.

9. Baltimore Ravens: B+

There may not be a better marriage of team and player this year than first-round G Vega Ioane, who projects as a prototypical Raven and one who more than stabilizes the middle of a line that lost C Tyler Linderbaum during free agency. Second-round OLB Zion Young also seemed to emanate from central casting Baltimore style to help fortify a front that didn’t get the job done last year for a variety of reasons. Mid-rounders Ja’Kobi Lane and Elijah Sarratt could push the WRs behind Zay Flowers or might even be de facto stand-ins for departed TE Isaiah Likely, though that’s a loose presumption given the schematic overhaul that’s about to happen here offensively. This is another draft that will be better understood in a year when it becomes apparent whether the Ravens were better off with Ioane and next year’s first-rounder … or Maxx Crosby.

15. Cincinnati Bengals: B

We should know in a year or two if they chose the right course of action, shipping out the 10^th pick for Pro Bowl DL Dexter Lawrence, who definitively further upgrades a defense that has undermined this organization, QB Joe Burrow and Co. specifically, for years. But a win-now choice has to mean the Bengals literally win now and in 2027, especially since S Caleb Downs or pass rusher Rueben Bain Jr. could have been had for far less money than Lawrence and, likely, for several more years than the three-time Pro Bowler will ultimately provide. Undersized second-round DE Cashius Howell is a speedball who could help replace some of former DE Trey Hendrickson’s off the edge in sub packages.

17. Pittsburgh Steelers: B

The selection of Penn State QB Drew Allar in Round 3 alone is probably going to render this a polarizing draft in some respect. Yet as the Steelers continue to await white smoke from Aaron Rodgers’ camp, it’s also hard to fault them for diversifying their future options at the position beyond Will Howard given what a bad job they’ve done on that front for the better part of the last decade – meaning once Ben Roethlisberger’s decline became apparent. But let’s get past Allar. Rodgers or no, first-round OT Max Iheanachor, second-round WR Germie Bernard − hardly a consolation prize after GM Omar Khan lost out on Lemon − third-round CB Daylen Everette and G Gennings Dunker and fourth-round KR/WR Kaden Wetjen, whose impact will come on special teams, all seem to thread the needle as players who upgrade the reigning AFC North champs’ roster immediately – and should and could contribute straight away – while also projecting as nice building blocks to place around Allar, Howard or whomever is taking the snaps down the road.

Didn't fuck up the first round pick reaching for someone that went 29th overall, Howell needs some coaching technique-wise but looks absolutely relentless, Davis should have time to develop into a really good corner.. Feel like we maybe lost the plot a little bit in the 4th round backsliding with the injury & character concerns, it's unnecessary risk but not a huge one with a couple of day 3 picks no one will really miss anyway. Revisit that in a couple of years if they wash out & we're saying "they could've had so and so" The last few have a decent enough chance to make the roster. Pretty solid draft.

PFF

2026 NFL Draft Grades and Team Recap

PFF data ranks all 32 draft classes with WAR, value index, steals and reaches from the 2026 NFL Draft. Unlock the data.

Howell seems to be a Trey Henrickson type, an amazing pass rusher, can't stop the run.

Davis seems like he will be our TE coverage guy

Lew intrigues me, dropped because of injury. Want to see how he recovers, 20 years old he has time to put on NFL strength.

Young, not a fan of the off the field stuff, especially the hitting a woman thing, hope he has got his head on straight. The player, as long as he can break open better than Yoshi it's fine.

Parker, seems to be a career backup guy

Estries, not spelled like it, but it sounds like Atreides.... is he the lisan al gaib?? 😂
Robinson, I just wanna watch this kid drive up to Columbus and participate in the Arnold 😂

Looking at the offseason as a whole, just Slaton --> Lawrence and Stone --> Cook alone made the defense a notch or 2 better.

The draft was great. The rest of the offseason was solid.

This team is a legit contender now.

As long as no one gets "abducted by aliens".

Howell will drop back into coverage also something tha hell do better then hendrickson and estries is underated just like bengals te coach James Casey

I think they’ve had a fantastic off-season altogether. Kudos to them.

17 minutes ago, spicoli said:

I think they’ve had a fantastic off-season altogether. Kudos to them.

Still waiting for that vet LB, otherwise checked all the boxes.

Just now, T-Dub said:

Still waiting for that vet LB, otherwise checked all the boxes.

Same. Hope they take care of that asap. That's really the only thing we didn't take care of, otherwise solid off season.

Just now, Jamie_B said:

Same. Hope they take care of that asap. That's really the only thing we didn't take care of, otherwise solid off season.

Have to believe they'll make a move there. No way they looked at 2 of the worst LB performances in the league and decided to run that back unchanged.. right? I just hope they didn't kill Knight's mojo asking him to QB a terrible defense before he even got comfortable with his own responsibilities. He looked capable enough in flashes but it was tough watching him drown out there. Logan must have really pissed someone off for them to do that. Did he forget to "like" a post from the Vice President of TikTok Dances or what? Probably never going to get a straight answer as to WTF happened there but it really pulled the rug out from under an already struggling rookie LB group.

9 minutes ago, T-Dub said:

Still waiting for that vet LB, otherwise checked all the boxes.

I’m gonna say they bring in 2 vets before TC. Still plenty of time to add experience to the room.

Just one thing to consider…that dline had no one out there that teams had to respect last year. Lawrence is going to change the entire dynamic of the D simply because he occupies 2-3 guys on every snap. That’s HUGE for everyone…but for the LB’s especially.

Every team wins on draft day.

5 minutes ago, Le Tigre said:

Every team wins on draft day.

and that’s a good thing.

I'm withholding my opinion until they hit the field and someone busts their NFL cherries.

Lew still reminds me of Billy Price BUT hope I'm wrong.

Want to see how Taco Davis hits and maybe supports the run coverate

but right now looks like a good prospect to cover tight ends and screens and swing passes.

I see Colby Young as more of a threat to Tinsley than Yoshi.

Also for some delusional reason expecting Shemar Stewart to come into his own

this year. Sure hope so. He looks like a freak and could be a monster.

I don't see what Colby Young brings that they don't already have in Tinsley. So why go there?

Just now, Sea Ray said:

I don't see what Colby Young brings that they don't already have in Tinsley. So why go there?

This is the one pick I hate. You do great work to get an extra 4th and it’s this guy. He may work out, but on paper it seems like a wasted pick. The Howell pick surprised me, but I love building up the trenches. Put pressure on the QB and it makes everyone else’s job easier. I like the potential of our entire defensive line at this point.

57 minutes ago, Sea Ray said:

I don't see what Colby Young brings that they don't already have in Tinsley. So why go there?

Young is almost 6-5 and has strong hands. Pitcher knows his QB and was looking for the most Burrow-friendly WR he could find in the middle rounds. The idea is to make teams pay deep down the field for pulling their safeties down on Chase and Tee.

Ioviss and Tinsley do some good things, but Young is better on GO balls. They are hoping that Young becomes the deep threat that Burton never was.

49 minutes ago, dex said:

Young is almost 6-5 and has strong hands. Pitcher knows his QB and was looking for the most Burrow-friendly WR he could find in the middle rounds. The idea is to make teams pay deep down the field for pulling their safeties down on Chase and Tee.

Ioviss and Tinsley do some good things, but Young is better on GO balls. They are hoping that Young becomes the deep threat that Burton never was.

Similar to chris henry