NFC: 2026 Draft Grades For Each NFL Team By Division

ARLINGTON, TEXAS – SEPTEMBER 28: Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys embraces Micah Parsons #1 of the Green Bay Packers after a tie game in overtime at AT&T Stadium on September 28, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)

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It is no secret that the NFC teams not only hold the past two Super Bowl winners, but that they may also be home to three of the most competitive divisions this year, and although the NFC South might look like the weakling of the bunch, is it? The 2026 NFL Draft may have shaken up the balance of power.

The NFC did hold some of the more interesting stories of the draft, from the Philadelphia Eagles jumping the Pittsburgh Steelers for the USC slot wide receiver to the Los Angeles Rams announcing “they’re good” for this year and selecting quarterback Ty Simpson with the 13th overall pick. Did the Seattle Seahawks get the steal of the draft (spoiler alert, I think so)?

Forbes2026 Draft Grades For Each NFL AFC Team By DivisionBy Gladys Louise Tyler

So, let’s see how each division in the NFC did with their draft day picks.

NFC East

The NFC East is home to draft day wizard Howie Roseman, new head coach John Harbaugh, and the unpredictability (although not so much this year) that is Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys. The Washington Commanders will attempt to recreate the rookie magic of quarterback Jayden Daniels without the orchestration of offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.

1. Philadelphia Eagles: Pre-Draft Day Needs: OL, Edge, TE, Safety, WR

The Eagles entered the draft with rumours of the eventual departure of wide receiver A.J. Brown, and their drafting did nothing to dispel the rumours. General Manager Howie Roseman continued to do Howie Roseman draft-manipulation-type things, including trading for Jonathan Greenard, filling areas of need, and doing so with eight draft picks.

R1 P20, WR, Makai Lemon, USC

R2 P54, TE, Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt

R3 P68, T, Markel Bell, University of Miami

R5 P178, QB, Cole Payton, North Dakota State

R6 P207, G, Micah Morris, Georgia

R7 P244, S, Cole Wisniewski, Texas Tech

R7 P251, DT, Uar Bernard, International Player Pathway Program

R7 P252, OLB, Keyshawn James-Newby, New Mexico

Draft Grade: A

2. Dallas Cowboys: Pre-Draft Day Needs: Edge, LB, CB

It is no secret that the Micah Parsons-less Cowboys’ defense was not very good last season. The finished 31st in yards allowed per play (6.1), 32nd in points allowed per game (30.1), had the seventh fewest sacks (35) and the third fewest interceptions (6). So, the assignment going into the draft was to concentrate on the defensive side of the ball, and with five of their seven picks, the Cowboys did just that, including trading up in the first round for a pivotal piece to their secondary.

R1 P11, S, Caleb Downs, OSU

R1 P23, Edge, Malachi Lawrence, UCF

R3 P92, Edge, Jaishawn Barham, Michigan

R4 P112, OT, Drew Shelton, PSU

R4 P114, CB, Defin Moore, Florida

R4 P137, Edge, LT Overton, Alabama

R7 P218, WR, Anthony Smith, East Carolina

Draft Grade: A

3. New York Giants: Pre-Draft Day Needs: DT, G, CB, WR, RB

The Giants had seven picks in the draft, two of which were in the first round, the second came after getting the Bengals’ first-round selection in the Dexter Lawrence trade.

Coming into the 2026 season with a defense that last season allowed the seventh most points per game (25.8), the second most rushing yards per game (145.3), had the ninth fewest interceptions (9), and only collected 39 sacks, the Giants began the draft not with a pick of need but with the best player available, fortunately it was Ohio State’s Arvell Reese. They then collected an offensive tackle to help second-year quarterback Jaxon Dart. In their remaining rounds, the Giants went about the yeoman work of filling in positions of need.

R1 P5, LB, Arvell Reese, OSU

R1 P10, OT, Francis Mauigoa, University of Miami

R2 P37, CB, Colton Hood, Tennessee

R3 P74, WR, Malachi Fields, Notre Dame

R6 P186, DT, Bobby Jamison-Travis, Auburn

R6 P192, OT, J.C. Davis, Illinois

R6 P193, LB, Jack Kelly, BYU

Draft Grade: B+

4. Washington Commanders: Pre-Draft Day Needs: WR, CB, Safety, C, Edge

Quarterback Jayden Daniels missed 10 games last season. The 5-12 Commanders did not recover. Although the team finished first in rushing yards per game (156.4), they were 21st in points per game (20.9) and 24th in passing yards per game (184.1). And then there was the defense, which only scooped up eight interceptions (26th), was 13th in sacks (42), and allowed the sixth most points per game (26.5).

The draft was a chance for the oldest roster in the league (average 28 years, seven months,s and four days) to not only get younger on the defensive side of the ball but to acquire talent. With only six picks in the draft, including none in the second or fourth round, it was a tall ask.

R1 P7, LB, Sonny Styles

R3 P71, WR, Antonio Williams, Clemson

R5 P147, Edge, Joshua Josephs, Tennessee

R6 P187, RB, Kayton Allen PSU

R6 P209, C, Matt Gulbin, Michigan State

R7 P223, QB, Anthan Kaliakmonis, Rutgers

Draft Grade: B-

NFC West

Home of the defending Super Bowl Champions and the current betting favorite to be the 2026 Super Bowl Champions, the West is formidable. The question is, did the draft help or hurt the teams in the West?

1. Seattle Seahawks: Pre-Draft Day Needs: RB, LB, Edge, G

By virtue of being the reigning Super Bowl Champions, the Seahawks were relegated to picking last in every round, and they entered the draft with only four picks. Enter general manager and Executive of the Year, John Schneider. After four trades, none of which required the loss of the first or second round selections, the Seahawks walked out with eight total picks.

R1 P32, RB, Jadarian Price, Notre Dame

R2 P64, S, Bud Clark, TCU

R3 P99, CB, Julian Neal, Arkansas

R5 P148, G, Beau Stephens, Iowa

R6 P199, WR, Emmanuel Henderson Jr., Kansas

R7 P236, CB, Andre Fuller, Toledo

R7 P242, DT, Devin Eastern, Minnesota

R7 P255, CB, Michael Dansby, Arizona

Draft Grade: B+

2. Arizona Cardinals: Pre-Draft Day Needs: QB, RT, Edge, WR

While commending the New York Giants for going best available instead of position of need, the same cannot be said for the rebuilding Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals went 3-14 last season. They released their quarterback, hired a first-time head coach (and Matt LaFleur’s brother), Mike LaFleur, and added Green Bay Packers’ defensive analyst and consultant Nathaniel Hackett as their offensive coordinator. So, while Jeremiyah Love may have been the best player available, was he the best player available for the rebuilding Cardinals? And while Love may be getting all the attention, their best pick and potential draft steal was getting Kaleb Proctor in the fourth round.

On a defense that last season gave up the sixth most yards per game (357.7), the fourth most points per game (28.7), the eighth most rushing yards per game (126.9), the ninth most passing yards per game (230.8), and with Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles still on the board, it’s a valid question. The Cardinals were given seven picks to make it right, did they?

R1 P3, RB, Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame

R2 P34, G, Chase Bisantis, Texas A&M

R3 P65, QB, Carson Beck, Miami

R4 P104, DT, Kaleb Proctor, SE Louisiana

R5 P143, WR, Reggie Virgil, Texas Tech

R6 P183, LB, Karson Sharar, Iowa

R7 P217, OT, Jaydon Williams, Ole Miss

Draft Grade: C

3. San Francisco Niners: Pre-Draft Needs: OT, G, Safety, Edge, TE, WR

Last season, wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk was a no-show, Ricky Pearsall missed eight games, tight end George Kittle missed six games, Nick Bosa missed 14 games, and perhaps the most devastating loss of all was Fred Warner missing 11 games. And while offensive tackle Trent Williams received the contract he wanted, he will be 38 years old at the beginning of the season. Quality depth was the priority for the Niners in their eight picks, especially after they traded out of the first round.

R2 P33, WR, De’Zahn Strilding, Ole Miss

R3 P70, Edge, Romello Height, Texas Tech

R3 P90, RB, Kaelon Black, IU

R4 P107, DT, Gracen Halton, Oklahoma

R4 P127, OT, Carver Willis, Washington

R4 P139, CB, Ephesians Prysock, Washington

R5 P154, LB, Jaden Dugger, Louisiana

R5 P179, OT, Enrique Cruz Jr., Kansas

Draft Grade: C

4. Los Angeles Rams: Pre-Draft Needs: WR, RT, LB, QB

Let’s just say questioning Les Snead is futile. He has proven to be the master at building teams and picking prospects (remember Puka Nucua in the fifth round of the 2023 draft?). And yet with only five picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Super Bowl now team used their first round pick on a (at best) developmental quarterback, when Makai Lemon, Kenyon Sadiq, Blake Miller, and or Monroe Freeling were still available, all capable of helping the Super Bowl now team, now.

R1 P13, QB, Ty Simpson, Alabama

R2 P61, TE, Max Klare, OSU

R3 P93, OT, Keagen Trost, Missouri

R6 P197, WR, CJ Daniels, University of Miami

R7 P232, DT, Tim Keenan III, Alabama

Draft Grade: C-

NFC North

The NFC North has the best last-place team in the Detroit Lions, the emerging powerhouse in the Chicago Bears, the team that was the loss of two players away from being a contender in the Green Bay Packers, and what could end up being the surprise of the division with Brian Flores’ defense and newly acquired Kyler Murray behind center.

All that remains for the Lions is fortifying their trenches, the Bears replacing a surprising retirement at center and a substantial loss in the secondary via free agency, the Packers staying healthy and adding quality depth, and the Vikings giving Flores more weapons.

1. Green Bay Packers: Pre-Draft Day Needs: CB, Edge, DT, OL

The Packers entered the draft with six total picks and none in the first, because of the Micah Parsons trade. Their needs included finding help opposite Parsons (kind of a theme in the NFC North) and patching up a secondary that allowed opposing quarterbacks to complete 65.6% of their passes while only grabbing seven interceptions (28th ranked).

R2 P52, CB, Brandon Cisse, South Carolina

R3 P77, DT, Chris McClellan, Missouri

R4 P120, Edge, Dani Dennis-Sutton, PSU

R5 P153, C, Jager Burton, UK

R6 P201, CB, Domani Jackson, Alabama

R6 P216, K, Trey Smack, Florida

Draft Grade: A-

2. Detroit Lions: Pre-Draft Day Needs: OT, G, Edge, CB, Safety

The Lions were 31st in pass block win rate last season (55.5%) then after the season ended productive offensive lineman Taylor Decker asked for a release. And then there is the perennial search for an edge opposite Aidan Hutchinson. Last season that was Al-QuadinMuhammad, who had 11 sacks, but he has since moved onto Tampa Bay. The Lions entered the search with seven picks.

R1 P17, OT, Blake Miller, Clemson

R2 P44, Edge, Derrick Moore, Michigan

R4 P118, LB, Jimmy Rolder, Michigan

R5 P157, CB, Keith Abney, ASU

R5 P168, WR, Kendrick Law, UK

R6 P205, DT, Skyler Gil-Howard, Texas Tech

R7 P222, Edge, Tyre West, Tennessee

Draft Grade: B+

3. Minnesota Vikings: Pre-Draft Day Needs: Safety, CB, DT, RB, C

The Vikings losses during free agency and beyond slightly overshadow their acquisition of quarterback Kyler Murray for the veterans minimum. Gone are defensive linemen Javon Hargrove and Jonathan Allen, wide receiver Jalen Nailor and during the draft edge Jonathan Greenard. The Vikings walked into the draft with nine picks to offset cap hit losses.

R1 P18, DT, Caleb Banks, Florida

R2 P51, LB, Jake Golday, Cincinnati

R3 P82, DT, Domonique Orange, Iowa State

R3 P97, OT, Caleb Tiernan, Northwestern

R3 P98, S, Jakobe Thomas, Miami

R5 P159, TE, Max Bredeson, Michigan

R5 P163, CB, Charles Demmings, Stephen F. Austin

R6 P198, RB, Demond Claiborne, Wake Forest

R7 P235, C, Gavin Gerhardt, Cincinnati

Draft Grade: B

4. Chicago Bears: Pre-Draft Day Needs: Edge, DT, Safety, C, WR

The Bears defense led the NFL in creating turnovers (33) last season where 23 of those turnovers were interceptions. And then in free agency their secondary was gutted. The Bears lost safeties Jaquan Brisker and Kevin Byard III along with cornerbacks Nashon Wright and CJ Gardner-Johnson. Their defensive line which only produced 33 sacks (22nd) lost Andrew Billings, Dominque Robinson and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka. And on the other side of the ball wide receiver D.J. Moore got traded to the Buffalo Bills.

But for the first time in six years it was time for the Bears to go defense in the first round of the draft as one of their seven picks.

R1 P25, S, Dillon Thieneman, Oregon

R2 P57, C, Logan Jones, Iowa

R3 P69, TE, Sam Roush, Stanford

R3 P89, WR, Zavion Thomas, LSU

R4 P124, CB, Malik Muhammad, Texas

R5 P166, LB, Keyshaun Elliott, ASU

R6 P213, DT, Jordan van den Berg, Georgia Tech

Draft Grade: C

NFC South

Last but certainly not least are the teams in the South. Last season three of the teams finished with a 8-9 record while the last place team’s record was 6-11. Whether for good or bad the South is competitive. What team utilized the draft to get a step up on its divisional opponents?

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Pre-Draft Day Needs: Edge, LB, G

For the first time since 2011 there will be no Lavonte David lining up on the defensive side for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. And for the first time since 2013 there will be no Mike Evans destroying Buccaneers opponents. This is a new era for the Bucanners and they had seven picks in the 2026 NFL Draft to make their stamp on it.

R1 P15, Edge, Rueben Bain Jr., University of Miami

R2 P46, LB, Josiah Trotter, Missouri

R3 P84, WR, Ted Hurst, Georgia State

R4 P116, CB, Keionte Scott, University of Miami

R5 P155, DT, Demonte Capehart, Clemson

R5 P160, G, Billy Schrauth, Notre Dame

R6 P185, TE, Bauer Sharp, LSU

Draft Grade: A-

2. Carolina Panthers: Pre-Draft Day Needs: Edge, Safety, WR, CB

With their seven picks the Panthers used rounds one and two to draft best player available. For the team that made the playoffs in their division, the Panthers showed up. Off-season was a time to solidify their playoff run.

R1 P19, OT, Monroe Freeling, Georgia

R2 P49, DT, Lee Hunter, Texas Tech

R3 P83, WR, Chris Brazzell, Tennessee

R4 P129, CB, Will Lee III, Texas A&M

R5 P144, C, Sam Hecht, Kansas State

R5 P151, S, Zakee Wheatley, PSU

R7 P227, LB, Jackson Kuwatch, Miami (Ohio)

Draft Grade: B+

3. New Orleans Saints: Per-Draft Day Needs: WR, Edge, DT, CB

Even though rookie quarterback Tyler Shough appeared to have a breakout season last year with a 67.6% completion percentage, 7.3 yards per attempt, 2384 passing yards with 10 passing touchdowns and 186 rushing yards with three rushing touchdowns all in just 11 games, he did so with only wide receiver Chris Olave and tight end Juwan Johnson making notable contributions. Shough’s antics also gleamed over the fact that the offensive line was 29th in pass block win rate last season (56%). So, the Saints had eight picks to get offensive weapons and add to free agent acquisition David Edwards along the offensive line.

R1 P8, WR, Jordyn Tyson, ASU

R2 P42, DT, Christen Miller, Georgia

R3 P73, TE, Oscar Delp, Georgia

R4 P132, G, Jeremiah Wright, Auburn

R5 P172, S, Lorenzo Styles Jr., OSU

R6 P190, WR, Baron Brown, LSU

R7 P219, CB, TJ Hall, Iowa

Draft Grade: B

4. Atlanta Falcons: Pre-Draft Day Needs: WR, OT, DL, CB, LB

The Falcons were picking with one hand tied behind their back because of the last regime. They had no first round pick, six total picks with their first pick coming halfway through the second round at number 48.

R2 P48, CB, Avieon Terrell, Clemson

R3 P79, WR, Zachariah Branch, Georgia

R4 P134, LB, Kendal Daniels, Oklahoma

R6 P208, DT, Anterio Thompson, Washington

R6 P215, LB, Harold Perkins Jr., LSU

R7 P231, OT, Ethan Onianwa, OSU

Draft Grade: C

2026 Draft Grades For Each NFL NFC Team By Division

Of course the value for each draft pick will not be established until they get on the field. Kellen Moore’s Saints in the South look to be disruptive and upset the traditional balance of power. The East may be a three-way brawl with the Eagles, Cowboys and Giants all making draft day moves that have the maximum potential. The Packers with the least amount of picks in the North may have made the biggest gains and the West for the most part remained status quo with the Cardinals selling jerseys and the Rams looking to the future with their first round picks.