“NFL DRAFT REPORT CARD”

by | Apr 27, 2026 |

It’s in the books, the NFL Draft.

Time for Hacksaw’s Draft Report Card.

CHARGERS..Joe Hortiz has a great track record in the draft, so you must trust him till he mishandles it…He needed OG help desperately, plus future pass rush help.  He got one, did not get the other.  Miami’s Akheem Mesidor is high motor and a load.  Good pick.  The Bolts got burned when 7-top OL were gone off the board before their pick came up-but Hortiz did not try to trade up.  What was surprising, Hortiz bypassed 3-rated OL in the 2nd round, went for an undersized OC, then drafted project OL much later at the end of the draft.  End result, OL is worse now than it was at the end of the season, and you know Justin Herbert has been sacked (105X) in the last two seasons.  Welcome to 2026-with two starting OGs are guys who were #1 picks and washed out with other clubs.  Grade (B)

RAMS..Win now, or build for the future?  That’s what everyone is saying.  You cannot doubt Les Sneed nor Sean McVay.  They must see amazing intangibles in QB-Tyler Simpson to take him now for the future, rather than any of the WRs they could have had at the 13th pick.  But what a leap in faith, Simpson was ranked 49th and went 13th.  Not much else in the draft and they had a chance to go get another WR or an OT.  Grade (C)

ARIZONA..Trade down and stockpile picks, or take a gem of a player?  RB-Jeremyiah Love is a stud, and then they picked OG-Chase Bisontes, and then QB-Carson Beck-who had 6-years college experience.  Grade (B)

ATLANTA..Not alot of picks but good choices led by CB-Avien Terrell and WR-Zach Branch.  Grade (C)

BALTIMORE..Pretty good group led by OG-Ola Ioane, a pass rusher, WR-JaKobi Lane and Indiana WR-Elijah Sarrat.  Grade (A)

BUFFALO..Added defense in DT-TJ Parker-LB-Anthony Hill.  Grade (B)

CAROLINA..Taking on projects in OT-Morgan Freeling and a DT..Grade (C)

CHICAGO..Superb top choice added to that defense, S-Dillon Thieneman..Grade (A)

CINCINNATI…Lots of defensive additions, via free agency, a trade, and DE-Cassius Howell..Finally doing something to help QB-Joe Burrow.  Grade (B).

CLEVELAND..Superb considering all their needs…OT-S-2WR..OT-Spencer Fano..the WRs Concepcion-Boston and S-Emmanuel Warren.  Even added a 5th QB to the roster-Talen Green.  Grade (A)

DALLAS..They know draft talent and S-Caleb Downs is complete and DE-Malachi Lawrence is a load.  Even if you don’t like Jerry Jones-they draft well.  Grade (A)

DENVER…Their #1 pick was actually the trade for WR-Jaylen Waddle, then added physical role players.  Grade (C).

DETROIT..Injuries in the trenches have hurt them, so they get upgrades with OT-Blake Miller and add CB-Keith Abney.  Grade (B)

GREEN BAY…Did they get enough beyond CB-Brandon Cisse?  Grade (C)

HOUSTON..More building blocks, but they have to polish OT-Kaylen Rutledge and DT-Kayden McDonald…Grade (A)

INDIANAPOLIS..Not alot of name picks aside from LB-CJ Allen..Grade (C)

JACKSONVILLE..No first round pick, took a TE with 2nd..Grade (C)

KANSAS CITY..Weird off season, losing so many in secondary and in defensive front, then reached for CB-Monsoor Delane, picked 6th-could have had him in the 20s..and reached for underachieving DT-Peter Woods.  Maybe influenced by Chris Jones-he becomes a player.  Grade (C)

MIAMI…A long, long road back.  There is upside with CB-Chris Johnson,OT-Kayden Proctor and LB-Jake Rodriguez.  Grade (B)

MINNESOTA..Alot of decent players have left in the last 3-years.  A big gamble with top pick DE-Caleb Banks, who has had 2-surgeries.  Grade (C)

NEW ENGLAND..Add young depth to both sides of line.  Thought they would go get WR help.  Grade (C).

NEW ORLEANS…Potential but injury problems for WR-Jordyn Tyson, but added strong defensive players from Georgia-Ohio State. Grade (B)

NY GIANTS..What a collection, led by LB-Arvell Reese, OG-Francis Mauigoa, CB Colton Hood.  Grade (A)

NY JETS..What a haul, winding up with 3-first round picks, David Bailey-Kenyon Sadij-Omar Cooper-plus DeAngelo Pond.  And remember they still own 3-first round picks next year.  Grade (A)

RAIDERS..The QB of the future, but bypassed OT-OG help after that, took defense, in a gamble with CB-Jermond McCoy-rumored in need of more knee surgery.  Do like RB-Mike Washington. Fernando Mendoza better be a star a year from now.  Grade (B)

PHILADELPHIA..Added more offense-WR-Mikail Lemon, to go with 4-wide receivers in  off season deals, and a pass catching TE.  And now we wait for AJ Brown’s exit via trade.  Grade (B)

PITTSBURGH..Needed a WR, took a 2nd tier OT.  Took a 2nd tier WR.  Then took Penn State’s QB.  No wonder the fans booed.  The Steelers had 12-picks.  Should have traded up.  Move up to the 21st century.  Grade (C).

SAN FRANCISCO..Needed to replace all the WRs they are getting rid of.  Stribling could be a stud.  Need some health too.  Still have Brandon Aiyuk-not sure why.  Grade (C)

SEATTLE..Drafting late, drafting their type of players.  Fascinated to see what Notre Dame RB-Jadarian Price is all about.

TAMPA BAY..Love the defensive upgrades, Reuben Baines-Josiah Trotter.  Grade (A)

TENNESSEE…Guessing game-good picks, or reaching on those picks?  Carnell Tate-Keldric Faulk-Nick Singleton.  Could have had alot different players to put around QB-Cam Ward.  Grade (C)

WASHINGTON..You add Sonny Styles-LB to the free agent group they brought it, and they have reinvented the defense.  Grade (A)

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