PFSN’s “Football Debate Club” turned its focus to grading all 32 teams’ 2026 NFL Draft classes, with every division producing its own set of debates. PFSN NFL draft analysts Ian Cummings and Jacob Infante broke down the biggest winners, questionable reaches, and value picks from across the league.
Their discussion went beyond simple letter grades, digging into how specific prospects fit each roster and which classes could create immediate momentum. For teams hoping to accelerate a rebuild or push deeper into contention, the draft reviews offered a clear snapshot of who maximized the weekend and who left more questions behind.
AFC East
- Buffalo Bills, B-
- Miami Dolphins, C
- New England Patriots, B+
- New York Jets, B+
Jacob Infante:Â “New York Jets. I think the first round was incredible. David Bailey, a pro-ready pass rusher off the edge at No. 2. Kenyon Sadiq a bit of a surprise, but an elite athlete at tight end. All-Pro receiving upside at the position. Omar Cooper Jr., I’ve said, has the best wide receiver one potential outside of the consensus top 3.
D’Angelo Ponds, one of my favorite players in this class. Elite athelticism. Just well-rounded everywhere except for size. Darrell Jackson Jr., good run-stuffer. Cade Klubnik, there are tools to work with there at quarterback. And VJ Payne in Round 7 and Anez Cooper, too, in Round 6, but VJ Payne; I love the size, the physicality, the special teams upside. All great value across the board.”
Ian Cummings: “To me, the best draft quantifying that is how much momentum they made. I think the Miami Dolphins are the clear pick here. Look, pick volume matters a little bit. Kadyn Proctor was a little early, but he’s either gonna play right tackle or guard, in my opinion, which he fits both of them better than left tackle.
Chris Johnson, immediate starter and a PFSN Impact Metrics elite player. Got Jacob Rodriguez, an elite athlete and green dot at linebacker. You got Will Kacmarek and Seydou Traore, who can complement each other really well. Tight end Kyle Louis and nickel Chris Bell, an elite athlete with a lot of upside, and then also getting Kevin Coleman Jr. as a slot and Michael Taaffe as a starter.”
AFC North
- Baltimore Ravens, B
- Cincinnati Bengals, B-
- Cleveland Browns, B+
- Pittsburgh Steelers, C
Jacob Infante:Â “Baltimore Ravens. They needed to address the trenches, and they did. Olaivavega Ioane, I think it’s an instant upgrade at guard. Zion Young, I think, is a really good value at 45 overall. He’s going to bring good power to the EDGE. They double down on a receiver, two big guys. Ja’Kobi Lane can win above the rim. Elijah Sarrat, smooth operator, who can get that subtle separation.
Matthew Hibner, really good athlete at tight end. Josh Cuevas, another good athlete, at tight end 2 to fit that 12- and 13-heavy personnel that Declan Doyle likes to utilize. Chandler Rivers, undersized, super good fluidity. I also love Adam Randall, the oversized running back with great speed, great receiving value to build up the “Hurt Syndicate” as I tapped it in a live stream.”
Ian Cummings: “Cleveland Browns. Spencer Fano is reinforcing the line with that first-round pick, elite athlete. They boost the receiving corps with Denzel Boston and KC Concepcion. Boston, more of a Michael Pittman-type, KC Concepcion, I comped him to Keenan McCardell. I think they complement each other perfectly.
You got Emmanuel McNeil-Warren as a support safety, who I think you played well in two-high. Really good long-term asset who will eventually be a starter for them. Parker Brailsford, potential starter at center, a really good [Todd] Monken fit. They got Austin Barber, developmental tackle, Joe Royer, an exciting route runner at tight end, and also Carsen Ryan, another gem, later on.”
AFC South
- Houston Texans, C
- Indianapolis Colts, A-
- Jacksonville Jaguars, D
- Tennessee Titans, A-
Jacob Infante:Â “Indianapolis Colts. So their first pick wasn’t until 53rd overall. They got two players in my top 50, though. CJ Allen is a true sideline-to-sideline linebacker. A.J. Haulcy is a physical safety with ball skills. Jalen Farmer, a potential starter at guard there, as well.
Bryce Boettcher, I think his athleticism, his high motor, is gonna be a massive impact on special teams. George Gumbs Jr., high ceiling as a newer edge rusher. Athleticism, that flexibility. Deion Burks, to me, I think, was the real steal here. [You’re] looking at a guy who you could argue has been a third-round pick. Elite athlete, shifty route runner, they picked him 253rd overall. One of the last picks in the draft.”
Ian Cummings:Â “I can’t really compete with it because I agree with it. The Tennessee Titans were close for me. The Indianapolis Colts get a green dot in CJ Allen with their second-round pick. They get a split-field safety in A.J. Haulcy, who’s a perfect fit alongside Cam Bynum buying them up top, Haulcy in the support role.
Jalen Farmer is an elite athlete with powerful extensions at guard. Bryce Boettcher, potential starter. George Gumbs, upside through the roof, and he’s still very young as a former tight end. Then they got Seth McGowan, who I love as an RB2, a dynamic player, and Deion Burks would be a Josh Downs replacement down the line.”
AFC West
- Denver Broncos, D+
- Kansas City Chiefs, B+
- Las Vegas Raiders, B-
- Los Angeles Chargers, C+
Jacob Infante: “The Chiefs. They found a potential instant cornerback 1 in Mansoor Delane. They took my 15th-overall prospect at 29 in Peter Woods, an athletic, situational pass rusher. R Mason Thomas, versatile defensive back. Can play safety and corner.
Jadon Canady, Emmett Johnson, as well, they got in the fifth round, my 86th overall player on my board, my running back 4. Cyrus Allen, a twitchy slot receiver, and they got a really good backup quarterback, Garrett Nussmeier, my QB3, 135th-overall on my board. 249th actually selected. That’s insane.”
Ian Cummings:Â “John Spytek and the Las Vegas Raiders. To me, that’s the best one. Getting your franchise QB, Fernando Mendoza, obviously weighs it a little bit. But also Treydan Stukes, who I think is an elite glue guy on the back-end. He can play nickel, safety. They reinforce the secondary. Not to mention getting Jermod McCoy, a potential top 10 talent, if he’s healthy, at the top of the fourth round.
They got Dalton Johnson, a quality safety, and Mike Washington, Jr., a dynamic, well-sized RB2. Hezekiah Masses, who I think has starting upside, as well. Malik Benson is the catalyst in the receiving corps. And then Brandon Cleveland, as well, is a potential nose tackle over to rotational DT, and Trey Zuhn [III], who has five-position-flex on the offensive line. Keyron Crawford. I think they hit on every single one, but a little over.”
NFC East
- Dallas Cowboys, B-
- New York Giants, B+
- Philadelphia Eagles, C+
- Washington Commanders, A+
Jacob Infante:Â “Washington Commanders. Out of the six picks they made, five of them were significantly higher on my board than where they ended up getting selected. Sonny Styles, elite freak athlete at linebacker. Antonio Williams is a tremendous complement to Terry McLaurin at wide receiver.
Joshua Josephs is a really impressive speed weapon rushing off the edge. Kaytron Allen, productive, tough runner in between the tackles. Matt Gulbin, high floor, intelligent, technically sound offensive lineman. I think you’re getting five potential starters in that class without a second- or fourth-round pick. That’s incredible value.”
Ian Cummings:Â “It’s boring. I hate to have the same answer, but I’m also the Washington Commanders. Look, based on the value of my composite board, my personal board, Sonny Styles was my No. 1 overall player. They got him 7th overall. Antonio Williams, who was my 33rd overall player, they got him at 71st overall.
Joshua Josephs and Kaytron Allen were both top 100 players on my personal board. They got Matt Gulbin, who I think could be a starting center in this league, and a quality one at that, late in Round 6. And then they also got a backup QB candidate, as well in Athan Kaliakmanis. So for those first five picks in particular, I think all five of those make an immediate impact for this team that needs to make a leap in 2026.”
NFC North
- Chicago Bears, C
- Detroit Lions, C+
- Green Bay Packers, B+
- Minnesota Vikings, C
Jacob Infante: “It pains me to say, I’m gonna have to say the Packers. Even without a first-round pick, Brandon Cisse really got value at 52nd overall. I think the fluidity, the ball skills. He brings starter-caliber for that weak secondary. Chris McClellan, a big, physical body who can create some pressure with that short area of quickness. Dennis Sutton, I had as a top-80 player; they got him at No. 120 to rush off the edge.
Factor in [Lukas] Van Ness and Micah Parsons. Jager Burton, center, guard, versatility, good athlete. Domani Jackson, as well. High upside developmental pick late on Day 3 at corner.”
Ian Cummmings:Â “All of these teams have good one-off picks here and there, but I don’t think any of them were quite as consistent across the board as the Detroit Lions. Getting Blake Miller No. 17 overall. He’s a phenomenal schematic fit. An underrated player who’s going to be solid starter. Ryan Schrader is my comp. Derrick Moore was a little rich in Round 2, but still the power profile, the explosion is hyper-elite.
And then on Day 3, Jimmy Rolder, I think, can be a really nice Alex Anzalone replacement, complement to Derrick Barnes. Kendrick Law in Round 5, a top 100 player on my board. Keith Abney II, a borderline Round 1 guy on my board. I think corner is a huge need, and he’s an immediate starter. Skyler Gill-Howard, if he’s healthy, is also a versatile, dynamic three-tech. Value all the way through.”
NFC South
- Atlanta Falcons, A
- Carolina Panthers, A
- New Orleans Saints, B+
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers, A-
Jacob Infante: “I don’t think any of these teams had bad classes, but I’m taking the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Rueben Bain is certainly a top 10 player on my board. Getting him at 15, I think, is huge. It fits a massive need at EDGE for the Buccaneers. Josiah Trotter, pro-ready run defender at linebacker, has incredible instincts in that regard for such a young guy.
Keionte Scott, scrappy nickel corner who can play safety and in the box as well. DeMonte Capehart, pro-ready run defender with elite athletic testing. Ted Hurst, too, on offense. Don’t forget that size, speed ability I love, especially on defense. But they didn’t ignore offense either. Billy Schrauth, as well, is a good, well-rounded draft for Tampa Bay.”
Ian Cummings: “The Buccaneers were a compelling choice, but I think the Carolina Panthers are seriously, seriously slept on. Round 1, they wanted to get an elite talent at tackle in Monroe Freeling. But I’d argue the rest of the class was just as strong. Lee Hunter is a starting nose tackle who frees up Derrick Brown to be a game-wrecker. Chris Brazzell [II] is a vertical threat who can also have extra route-running upside.
You’ve got your starting center in Round 5, Sam Hecht, with the range in the run game and the strong anchor. You got Will Lee [III], who can play on the boundary and a little bit of nickel, a starting corner. And then you got Zakee Wheatley, who I think can be a starting safety in the two-high sets. To me, they got the best value all around, all the way through.”
NFC West
- Arizona Cardinals, B
- Los Angeles Rams, D+
- San Francisco 49ers, D+
- Seattle Seahawks, D+
Jacob Infante: “The Arizona Cardinals, and it’s for two reasons in particular. The first one being how well the first two picks complement each other. They went with Jeremiah Love with the No. 3 overall pick. I think he’s one of the top pure players in this class, regardless of positional value. Elite blue-chip running back prospect.
Chase Bisontis has the power and technical refinement to be an instant starting guard at the next level. Those two are going to play off each other really well and maximize each other’s strengths. I loved Kaleb Proctor at 104. An elite athlete at defensive tackle who rushed the passer incredibly well. I think that can be really good value.”
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Ian Cummings: “The Seattle Seahawks. The Jadarian Price pick in Round 1 was a little rich for me. I wouldn’t have gone with him there. But I think they aced the entire rest of the class. Look at Bud Clark, a safety, who’s got nickel flexibility, two-high single-high. Look at Julian Neil, who I think has starting ability on the boundary, as well. And they also added depth at corner with Andre Fuller.
They got Deven Eastern, who’s a really good rotational defensive lineman. I think Beau Stephens from Iowa can legitimately challenge Anthony Bradford for starting reps at right guard and maybe take over as a quality starter. So you get multiple starters, you get a dynamic running back, and depth at corner, and you get Bud Clark, who I think could be a dynamic first-down starter right out of the gate.”
