Here’s how Denver Post Broncos beat writers Parker Gabriel and Luca Evans graded the first-round picks.
No. 1: Las Vegas Raiders — Fernando Mendoza, Indiana, QB
The entire world has known this would be the pick for months. The Broncos will see a new franchise QB in the AFC West. Grade: A
No. 2: New York Jets — David Bailey, Texas Tech, Edge
Seemed New York might trade this pick, but the Jets stay put and grab a foundational pass-rusher. Grade: B+
No. 3: Arizona Cardinals — Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame, RB
The Cardinals aren’t ready for a star running back from a roster-building standpoint, but they’ve got a special one in Love. He might be the most talented player, regardless of position, in the draft. Grade: B
No. 4: Tennessee Titans — Carnell Tate, Ohio State, WR
Probably the best receiver in this draft and Cam Ward’s new best friend, but Tennessee passed up big-time on defense here. Grade: C+
No. 5: New York Giants — Arvell Reese, Ohio State, OLB
Regarded by many as the top player in the draft, the only question is if he plays on the edge or in the middle of the field. Either way, the Giants have another monster for their front seven. And they just got to sit right at No. 5 and let him come their way. Grade: A
No. 6: Kansas City Chiefs — Mansoor Delane, LSU. CB
Kansas City gave up a haul to get here — Nos. 9, 74 and 148 — and land their Trent McDuffie replacement in a pro-ready corner. Grade: B-
No. 7: Washington Commanders — Sonny Styles, Ohio State, ILB
In all the times Washington ran through how the top of the draft might go, there probably weren’t many where they thought Styles would be available at No. 7. Easy, easy call for Dan Quinn and company. Grade: A
No. 8: New Orleans Saints — Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State, WR
Highest-upside WR in the draft lands in a promising situation in New Orleans. A solid fit with hopeful franchise quarterback Tyler Shough. Grade: B+
No. 9: Cleveland Browns — Spencer Fano, Utah, OT
Cleveland slides back three spots and still gets its choice of the draft’s offensive linemen. That’s pretty good work. Fano is a big, athletic guy, but is a mild surprise as the first off the board. Grade: B+
No. 10: New York Giants — Francis Mauigoa, Miami (FL), OT
If Mauigoa’s much-discussed herniated disc is healthy, this is a key protector for Jaxson Dart. But that’s a not-unsubstantial “if” at No. 10. Grade: C+
No. 11: Dallas Cowboys — Caleb Downs, Ohio State, S
The Cowboys traded a pair of fifth-round picks to move up one spot and make sure they landed S Caleb Downs. They must have thought another team was in the mix. The extra Day 3 picks are well worth the acquisition cost for one of the best players in the entire class. Grade: A
No. 12: Miami Dolphins — Kadyn Proctor, Alabama, OT
The 6-foot-6-plus Alabama tackle has been a steady pre-draft riser, but this is…high. High. It makes some sense, though, to land a
protector for Malik Willis, but Proctor might not have even the best tackle available here. Grade: C-
No. 13: Los Angeles Rams — Ty Simpson, Alabama, QB
The first true stunner of the night. The Rams, with reigning MVP Matthew Stafford, take a quarterback. Stafford, of course, is 38, but all the same, this is the biggest surprise of the night. If it works, Sean McVay has a succession plan in place. But when will that be? Grade: C-
No. 14: Baltimore Ravens — Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State, OG
Baltimore needed offensive-line help, and gets it here. Ioane was the clear top of the guard class. This could set up a slightly earlier-than-expected run of guards. Grade: A-
No. 15: Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Rueben Bain Jr., Miami (FL), Edge
Bain might have short arms, but most thought he’d be long gone by the middle of the first round. Tampa landed an instant impact guy in this range last year in WR Emeka Egbuka and probably just did it again with Bain. Grade: A-
No. 16: New York Jets — Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon, TE
Former Broncos assistant GM Darren Mougey strikes. Sadiq is an unreal athlete, and will instantly become an irreplaceable piece of New York’s offense. Grade: A
No. 17: Detroit Lions — Blake Miller, Clemson, OT
The Lions were a near lock to select an offensive lineman. They go with Miller based and will have to decide whether he or Penei Sewell move from their more natural right side to left. Grade: B
No. 18: Minnesota Vikings — Caleb Banks, Florida, DT
A Broncos top-30 visit off the board early. This is a boom-or-bust pick, as Banks has some of the highest pass-rushing upside in the draft but major injury concerns. Might be early. Grade: C
No. 19: Carolina Panthers — Monroe Freeling, Georgia, OT
The Panthers were a surprise division winner in 2025 and now they bolster their front line as they try to defend the NFC South behind QB Bryce Young and company. Freeling’s one of the players in this class who is a natural left tackle. Pretty good business for Carolina to land him given he’s the sixth OL off the board. Grade: A-
No. 20: Philadelphia Eagles — Makai Lemon, USC, WR
Ballplayer. Lemon falls right into the Eagles’ hands, who move up to grab him — all but sealing the departure of WR1 A.J. Brown. Jalen Hurts has a new slot weapon. Grade: A
No. 21: Pittsburgh Steelers, Max Iheanachor, Arizona State, OT
The big man has only been playing football for a few years after moving to the United States from Nigeria. He’s young at 22, has a world of talent and, even if he has edges to smooth out, the future is bright. Grade: B
No. 22: Los Angeles Chargers — Akheem Mesidor, Miami (FL), Edge
Mesidor’s age — 25 — has drawn scoffs aplenty throughout the draft process, but he had some of the best pass-rushing production in the country last year. Instant impact. Grade: B-
No. 23: Dallas Cowboys — Malachi Lawrence, UCF, Edge
Lawrence has been steadily gaining steam through the spring and ends up solidly in the first round. The Cowboys figured to be a strong candidate to double up on defense and they indeed end up with a safety and a rusher with their extra capital after trading Micah Parsons last summer. Grade: B
No. 24: Cleveland Browns — KC Concepcion, Texas A&M, WR
Stud inside-outside threat at receiver in Cleveland. But do the Browns have the offensive juice, and the quarterback, to justify this pick? Grade: C+
No. 25: Chicago Bears — Dillon Thieneman, Oregon, S
Thieneman is a rocket ship. He ran 4.35 seconds in the 40-yard dash and is capable of playing deep, in the box or in the slot. He’s a terrific chess piece for Bears DC Dennis Allen and it’s a mild surprise he’s available this late in the first round. Grade: A
No. 26: Houston Texans — Keylan Rutledge, Georgia Tech, G
Big theme of this first round: offensive linemen have largely flown off the board quicker than expected. Rutledge has elite traits and athleticism, but this is a reach. Grade: D+
No. 27: Miami Dolphins — Chris Johnson, San Diego State, CB
Johnson didn’t have a lot of buzz through the fall but exploded into the conversation in the past few months. The Dolphins need help across the board as they prepare to take on a record amount of dead money by a wide margin. They’ve now got two building blocks in Proctor and Johnson. Grade: B-
No. 28: New England Patriots — Caleb Lomu, Utah, OT
The Patriots need help up front and they find it late in the first round. Lomu and Fano go as college bookends in the first round. Impressive for the Utes and a solid, if not exactly flashy, move for New England in front of QB Drake Maye. Grade: B
No. 29: Kansas City Chiefs — Peter Woods, Clemson, DT
The Chiefs double up on defense in the first round, adding Woods to Delane in coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s system. What will Patrick Mahomes think about that rather than adding firepower offensively? K.C. passed on WRs Omar Cooper Jr. and Denzel Boston here. Interesting. Grade: C
No. 30: New York Jets — Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana, WR
Mougey and the Jets have been busy all offseason and they keep it rolling, moving up a handful of spots to get back into the first round for a third selection. It’s Cooper, a rugged and talented receiver out of IU who joins a really fun young group of talent including Garrett Wilson, RB Breece Hall, Sadiq and TE Mason Taylor. Grade: A-
No. 31: Tennessee Titans — Keldric Faulk, Auburn, OLB
Faulk is a massive player and one of the youngest in the draft. He’ll be a developmental piece for Robert Saleh’s defense in Nashville. It may take some time, but he’ll learn from John Franklin-Myers and others and has the chance to play on the edge or inside depending on the situation — and how much he grows. Grade: B-
No. 32: Seattle Seahawks — Jadarian Price, Notre Dame, RB
Two running backs go and they’re college teammates from Notre Dame. Price played second fiddle to Love in South Bend, but he’s got lead NFL back written all over him. As talented a ballcarrier as anybody in this class, Price will get a long look right away for the Super Bowl champs. Grade: A-
