NFL Draft grades: 9 teams got an A for 2026, but this one could turn into an F

Springtime is for grading.

Not only in the real world, as students across the country are dreaming about final exams — and a long-awaited summer break — but also in the NFL. Now that the 2026 NFL Draft is in the books, analysts are handing out grades, fans are weighing in, and everyone seems to be debating consensus big boards.

While snap grades often examine the process employed by each team when making their selections, ultimately the real grades will come from the teams and the players themselves. While we can sit here and forecast how teams will use their new players, it is up to each coaching staff to put their incoming draft picks in a position to succeed through scheme, coaching, and development. As for the players themselves? They’re facing the adjustment from life in college, to life as a professional. How they adapt will go a long way towards the ultimate grade, if you will.

In handing out our final 2026 NFL Draft grades, we gave nine different teams an A grade:

• Cleveland Browns: A+
• New York Giants: A+
• Las Vegas Raiders: A
• New York Jets: A
• Carolina Panthers: A
• Dallas Cowboys: A
• Philadelphia Eagles: A
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers: A
• Kansas City Chiefs: A-

But let’s look forward a bit. Which of these drafts could spin the other way once the players hit the field?

How the Jets’ 2026 Draft class could ultimately be an F

Opinions on the Jets’ 2026 Draft class are mixed.

Which is why they make sense in this category.

New York unofficially kicked off the 2026 NFL Draft when the organization was on the clock with the second-overall selection. With the Las Vegas Raiders locked into drafting Fernando Mendoza, the Jets faced the first true decision of the draft: Texas Tech pass rusher David Bailey, or Ohio State hybrid defender Arvell Reese?

While many viewed Reese as the better prospect, the Jets opted for Bailey, the more experienced pass rusher off the edge. It was looked at as a “safer” pick, with Reese still needing time to adjust to life on the edge after playing in an off-ball role for most of his time at Ohio State.

Where the Jets’ true plans for 2026 and beyond came into focus was through their next two selections. Many believed the Jets would add another receiver with their second pick in the first round, at No. 16, with Indiana’s Omar Cooper Jr. a popular selection for the team in mock drafts. General manager Darren Mougey indeed added a pass catcher for free agent quarterback Geno Smith, drafting Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq.

That selection left some scratching their heads, after the team added LSU’s Mason Taylor in the second round a year ago.

But the plan came into clear focus when the Jets moved back into the first round, executing a trade with the Miami Dolphins to pick up the selection at No. 30. The pick in that spot? None other than Cooper.

That plan? An offense that leans into 12 personnel — two tight ends on the field in Taylor and Sadiq — with Garrett Wilson and Cooper as their main wide receivers in that package.

It could work, and here is why: We know that football is a cyclical game, and after years of the passing game driving offenses (and defenses responding by getting lighter and faster with their personnel packages) the worm may be turning. The Los Angeles Rams leaned heavily into bigger personnel packages last year, using 13 personnel (three tight ends) on more than 30% of their offensive snaps during 2025. When the Rams threw out of that package, they recorded an Expected Points Added per Pass of 0.50, which was higher than the 0.17 EPA/Pass they notched when throwing out of 11 personnel.

The Seattle Seahawks, who won Super Bowl LX, used 12 personnel on just under 30% of their offensive snaps, and when Seattle threw out of that package, they produced an EPA/Pass of 0.37, the best in the league out of 12 personnel and well above the EPA/Pass of 0.04 recorded when Seattle threw out of 11 personnel.

So the bet from the Jets is this: This trend of getting bigger on offense will continue, and with this draft class they will be ahead of the curve.

There are two potential problems.

One, that trend might not continue. Defenses around the league are not going to stop innovating, and if defensive coordinators figure out ways to slow down offenses that are trying to throw out of bigger personnel packages, this bet from the Jets might not pan out.

Two? Geno Smith might be an upgrade over New York’s quarterback room of 2025, but the Smith we saw a season ago was not the QB we saw during his run in Seattle. While the Jets added Cade Klubnik on Day 3, he might not be the team’s long-term answer at quarterback. Meaning New York might be back to the quarterback drawing board next year, and while that class looks good right now … there is a long way to go until the next draft class sees the field.

On paper, you can see the plan from New York.

But ultimately, plans sometimes fail.