play1:57Domonique Foxworth: Rams’ selection of Ty Simpson is a ‘risky bet’Dan Graziano and Domonique Foxworth detail why the Rams’ decision to draft Ty Simpson in the first round isn’t expected to pay off immediately.
play1:14Raiders kick off Day 3 of NFL draft by selecting Jermod McCoyTennessee’s Jermod McCoy is selected by the Las Vegas Raiders as the 101st pick in the NFL draft.
play1:07Graziano on Cardinals’ pick of Love: ‘Awesome player, terrible pick’Dan Graziano details why the Cardinals selecting Jeremiyah Love third was not a great financial decision.
Jordan ReidCloseJordan ReidNFL draft analystJordan Reid is an NFL draft analyst for ESPN, providing in-depth scouting on the nation’s top pro prospects. Jordan joined ESPN in 2021 and also contributes to SportsCenter and ESPN Radio. He played quarterback at North Carolina Central University and then went on to coach there from 2014-18.Follow on X and Matt MillerCloseMatt MillerNFL draft analystMatt Miller is an NFL draft analyst for ESPN, providing in-depth scouting on the nation’s top pro prospects. A Missouri native, Matt joined ESPN in 2021 and also contributes to SportsCenter, NFL Live and ESPN Radio. Prior to joining ESPN, Matt spent 11 years as a senior draft analyst at Bleacher Report.Follow on XMultiple AuthorsApr 26, 2026, 06:50 AM ET
Of the record-tying 17 wideouts drafted in first three rounds, how many will have at least one 1,000-yard season in the next five seasons?
Domonique Foxworth: Rams’ selection of Ty Simpson is a ‘risky bet’Dan Graziano and Domonique Foxworth detail why the Rams’ decision to draft Ty Simpson in the first round isn’t expected to pay off immediately.
Dan Graziano and Domonique Foxworth detail why the Rams’ decision to draft Ty Simpson in the first round isn’t expected to pay off immediately.
Raiders kick off Day 3 of NFL draft by selecting Jermod McCoyTennessee’s Jermod McCoy is selected by the Las Vegas Raiders as the 101st pick in the NFL draft.
Graziano on Cardinals’ pick of Love: ‘Awesome player, terrible pick’Dan Graziano details why the Cardinals selecting Jeremiyah Love third was not a great financial decision.
Dan Graziano details why the Cardinals selecting Jeremiyah Love third was not a great financial decision.
What was your biggest overarching takeaway from the draft?
Who should the Rams have picked instead of Ty Simpson?
What is the best QB landing spot beyond Mendoza to the Raiders?
Which team should have addressed — or better addressed — the QB position?
In five years, we’re all going to wonder why ___ fell in the draft?
Make your early call for Offensive Rookie of the Year
Make your early call for Defensive Rookie of the Year
Predict one rookie (besides Love) who will win you fantasy leagues in 2026
Call your shot: Where will Love rank among fantasy running backs in Year 1?
Seven rounds and 257 picks have come and gone in the 2026 NFL draft. Players landed with their new teams during a three-day run that saw a record run of pass-catchers during the first two days and a few first-round curveballs.
Draft analysts Jordan Reid and Matt Miller have spent more than a year evaluating this class and have their opinions ready to go. So we asked them to break down this draft in 29 categories, from best (and worst) picks to a few long-term predictions.
Miller: This was a draft with talent and depth in the trenches, which played out during the first two days. Nine offensive linemen were drafted in Round 1, and nine tight ends came off the board in the first three rounds. We also saw 13 edge rushers go off the board in the first 70 picks. We knew this wouldn’t be a quarterback or running back draft early, and there were only six backfield players (four QBs, two RBs) picked in the top 100. The trench players more than picked up the slack.
Reid: The NIL effect has really reduced the amount of small-school talent, especially early in the draft. Only three players from schools not in Power 4 conferences (San Diego State CB Chris Johnson, Toledo S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren and Georgia State WR Ted Hurst) were picked in the first two days. The remaining 97 came from the SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, ACC and Notre Dame.
Reid: DT Kayden McDonald to the Texans. I love it when teams keep adding resources to build up the strongest parts of their roster. The Texans weren’t satisfied with having an already-dominant defensive front. McDonald’s ability to eat up space and make plays behind the line of scrimmage will provide even more freedom for star pass rushers Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr.
Miller: Cardinals RB Jeremiyah Love. The new Arizona running back doesn’t have an immediate infrastructure around him, but he’s the type of talent who can carry the team until a franchise quarterback is added. Love will be on par with recent elite running backs drafted in the top 10 like Saquon Barkley and Bijan Robinson.
Reid: Downs. I not only love the landing spot with the Cowboys, but he’ll be a key contributor right away. Downs brings an immediate identity to a defense that’s starved for young talent and difference makers.
Miller: An offensive playmaker, namely wide receiver Makai Lemon. Lemon was my top-ranked available player when the Rams came on the clock. He would have been an instant-impact receiver and a likely successor to Davante Adams, who will turn 34 during the upcoming season.
Reid: Matt mentioned Lemon, so I’ll go with tight end Kenyon Sadiq. The Rams are in a win-now window, and it would have wise to add another playmaker for reigning MVP quarterback Matthew Stafford. Sadiq’s sub-4.4 speed would have made much more sense for a team with Super Bowl aspirations.
Domonique Foxworth: Rams’ selection of Ty Simpson is a ‘risky bet’
Miller: Three. Carnell Tate, Jordyn Tyson and Lemon will be those guys early in their careers. And while I’d love to mention my guy Omar Cooper Jr. here, he’s sharing too many targets with Garrett Wilson, Sadiq and a bevy of running backs to break out during his rookie contract.
Reid: I also think three. Tate and Tyson have clear paths to a lot of targets right away, but another I will throw in there is KC Concepcion. I believe the Browns’ first-rounder has upside as a WR1 in the future.
Miller: Lemon to the Eagles. Philadelphia traded up to No. 20 to steal Lemon from the Steelers (who were set to pick at No. 21), and landed my No. 8 overall player in the process. Lemon was my WR1 in the class thanks to his toughness in the middle of the field and his fantastic run-after-catch ability.
Reid: Edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. to the Bucs. Bain was my top-ranked edge rusher in this draft, so Tampa Bay getting him at No. 15 was a steal. Bain’s versatility and power profile fit perfectly with the team’s scheme.
Miller: Edge rusher Cashius Howell to the Bengals at No. 41. My No. 25 overall player, Howell slipped to Cincinnati, which will love his first-step quickness off the edge. Edge is position of need after Trey Hendrickson left in free agency for Baltimore, and Howell’s 11.5 sacks last season showed what he can provide.
Reid: The Browns getting McNeil-Warren with the No. 58 pick is one of the biggest steals of the draft, as many thought the safety could’ve been a top-25 pick entering the week.
Miller: S A.J. Haulcy to the Colts at No. 78 overall. Haulcy is a physical playmaker at 6-foot, 215 pounds with excellent instincts in coverage and the strength to play in the box. The Colts have a need at safety, so Haulcy has a shot to make an early impact.
Reid: WR Chris Bell to the Dolphins at No. 94. Bell tore his ACL in November, which caused him to fall to this pick, but this is a worthy risk for the Dolphins to get a player who was once viewed as a first-round prospect.
Miller: Edge Dani Dennis-Sutton to the Packers. I’d love to take Jermod McCoy like Jordan did below, but let’s highlight Dennis-Sutton’s value. My No. 56 overall player fell to the Packers at pick No. 120 and will immediately boost the outside pass rush. With Micah Parsons’ return date unknown, Dennis-Sutton will have a chance to play early.
Reid: McCoy to the Raiders. The corner was my No. 12 overall player and slipped to the fourth round because of injury concerns, as he missed the entire 2025 season after tearing his ACL last January. This is a low-risk, high-reward move by the Raiders. If McCoy is able to return to his pre-injury form, then the franchise has a true shutdown CB1.
Raiders kick off Day 3 of NFL draft by selecting Jermod McCoy
Tennessee’s Jermod McCoy is selected by the Las Vegas Raiders as the 101st pick in the NFL draft.
Miller: CB Keith Abney II to the Lions. With pick No. 157, the Lions got a physical, instinctive cornerback who can live at the line of scrimmage and is feisty in press-man situations. Abney doesn’t have great size or elite speed but is a worker in the slot.
Reid: C Sam Hecht and S Zakee Wheatley to the Panthers. I cheated and took two players, but Carolina got tremendous value in getting prospects I had fourth-round grades on. Hecht projects as the center of the future behind Luke Fortner and the team also needed another young, high-upside safety.
Miller: RB Kaytron Allen to the Commanders. Allen was ranked No. 123 on my board and was selected at No. 187. He could boost a Washington backfield that had enough of a running back need to be in the conversation as a potential landing spot for Love in Round 1.
Reid: RB Demond Claiborne to the Vikings. The Vikings traded up to select the former Wake Forest back. While Minnesota restructured Aaron Jones Sr.’s contract this offseason, there’s room for another receiving running back in the roster. Claiborne could potentially fill Jones’ role in 2027.
Miller: CB Toriano Pride Jr. to the Bills at No. 220. Pride has excellent speed (ran a 4.32 40 at the combine) and length at the cornerback position. He showed starter-level tape at Missouri, but his technique was a bit inconsistent and he occasionally would bite on fakes. But he is great value in Round 7.
Miller: OT Francis Mauigoa to the Giants at No. 10. The Giants needed a right tackle who can open lanes in the run game and also keep quarterback Jaxson Dart clean. Not overthinking this selection and drafting the best offensive lineman in the class is a win on value, but it’s also a great scheme fit with John Harbaugh determined to establish the run.