The 2026 NFL Draft is in the books. 805,000 people (some double counted) attended the draft in Pittsburgh, setting a new record (beating Detroit). Let’s take a look how the NFC North (and the Saints and Falcons) fared.
Detroit Lions
Round 1 Pick 17 Blake Miller RT Clemson
Solid experienced durable athletic right tackle. Detroit reloaded the offensive line big time this offseason as Penei Sewell moves to left tackle. See the breakdown in the Round 1 recap.
Round 2 Pick 44 Derrick Moore EDGE Michigan
Detroit got their pass rusher opposite of Aidan Hutchinson. Moore can set the edge, win speed to power and win inside moves. He was very productive at Michigan with back to back 10 sack seasons. Detroit moved ahead of Baltimore to take him and traded from pick 50 to pick 44 (giving up Round 4 Pick 128 (from Montgomery trade). Good move and they got their pass rusher.
Round 4 Pick 118 Jimmy Rolder LB Michigan
Detroit stayed with Michigan and took a very good tackler in Jimmy Rolder. He is a special team ace and should compete for the Will LB spot with Malcom Rodriguez.
Round 5 Pick 157 Keith Abney CB Arizona State
Abney is a very good coverage corner and team leader from Arizona State. He can play inside nickel and outside but will compete at nickel with Roger McCreary and others in Detroit. Detroit replaced Amik Robertson well with his pick who many considered a day 2 prospect.
Round 5 Pick 168 Slot WR/KR Kendrick Law Kentucky (transferred from Alabama)
Law is a very speedy WR with good YAC ability. He can play special teams return and gunner. Detroit traded up from pick 181 giving up a 6th round pick to do so. He can replaced Kalif Raymond well and battle Greg Dortch for backup slot WR and returner.
Round 6 Skyler Gill-Howard DT Texas Tech
Gill-Howard is an undersized but quick twitch DT. He had an ankle injury in 2025 but Detroit saw enough to make a selection for him to compete with Levi Onwuzurike and Mekhei Wingo at backup 3 tech.
Round 7 Tyre West DE Tennessee
Big DE from Tennessee that can set the edge and move inside to rush. Provides some depth for the Lions.
Green Bay Packers
Round 2 Pick 52 Brandon Cisse CB South Carolina
Cornerback was the Packers biggest need with Nixon and Valentine still somehow starters. Cisse is the future here and will get plenty of time to develop.
Brandon Cisse is an explosive, high-energy cornerback who plays like he’s shot out of a cannon. He’s a premier athlete with the speed and agility to stick to receivers like glue, whether he’s lining up on the outside or in the slot. What truly separates him from typical defensive backs is his aggressive mindset in the run game. While he sometimes takes risks trying to jump routes, his recovery speed and elite closing burst allow him to consistently disrupt plays at the catch point.
About
- 2025: 21.1% forced incompletion rate (seventh among SEC CBs), per TruMedia
- 2025: 27 tackles (19 solo), 1.5 TFL, 1 INT, 1 FF
Strengths
- Explosive linear burst allows him to stay in phase on deep routes.
- Attacks ball carriers with rare physicality and strong wrap-up tackling ability.
- Exceptional change-of-direction skills to mirror receivers and drive on short routes.
Weaknesses
- At times body catches instead of trusting his hands and high-pointing the football.
- Needs to avoid biting on double moves and play with more patience.
Combine Data
- Vertical jump: 41 inches
- Broad jump: 10 feet, 11 inches
Round 3 Pick 77 Chris McClellan DT Missouri
Green Bay is moving to 4-3 and this guy is a solid 3-4 DE role to battle Karl Brooks for the starting job.
Round 4 Pick 120 Dani Dennis Sutton EDGE Penn State
The Packers get a productive Penn State edge rusher to play 3-4 OLB. Can learn and spell Parsons until he is ready and can be very productive. Needs a bit more speed but should be a good player and was a value pick.
Round 5 Pick 153 Jager Burton Guard/Center Kentucky
Solid depth choice at guard or center for the interior offensive line which is moving Jordan Morgan out to left tackle to replace Walker.
Round 6 Pick 216 Trey Smack K Florida
McManus stunk after signing a big deal so it is time for some smack talk. Rookie kicker from warm weather kicking at Lambeau. What could go wrong here?
Chicago Bears
Round 1 Pick 25 Dillon Thieneman Safety Oregon/Purdue
Day 1 starter at safety with athleticism, range, good leadership and tackling ability.
Round 2 Center Logan Jones Iowa
With Dalman retiring, the Bears took the center from Iowa to battle Bradbury.
Round 3 Pick 69 (nice) Sam Roush TE Stanford
High character athletic tight end with some blocking skills as well. Chicago may play some three tight ends with Loveland, Kmet and Roush.
Round 3 Pick 89 Zavion Thomas WR LSU
LSU WR goes off the board to the Bears. Can battle for the slot with Kalif Raymond or play outside. Super fast 4.28 speed.
Round 4 Pick 124 Malik Muhammad CB Texas
Reliable corner on outside but not flashy in coverage.
Round 5 Pick 166 Keyshaun Elliot LB Arizona State
Special team LB but produced with tackles at Arizona State
Round 6 Pick 213 Jordan Vanden Berg DT Georgia Tech
Quick DT with good knowledge of the game and leadership. Very productive for Georgia Tech.
Minnesota Vikings
Round 1 Pick 18 Caleb Banks DT Florida
Replacement for Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave but must watch his foot injury. Kind of a reach but the Vikings added talent on the defensive line. Great character guy too.
Round 2 Pick 51 Jake Golday LB Cincinnati
Solid off ball LB who will challenge Eric Wilson for a starting spot.
Round 3 Dominique Orange Pick 82 NT Iowa State
Big ass nose tackle replacing Hargrave. Must be a run stuffer and was productive.
Round 3 Pick 97 Caleb Tiernan OT Northwestern
Swing tackle to start and could eventually replace Brian O’Neil.
Round 3 Pick 98 Jakobe Thomas S Miami
The Vikings traded Jonathan Greenard to the Eagles for this Round 3 pick and a Round 3 pick in 2027. Big loss for the Vikings at pass rush losing Greenard, but get some safety depth who they think can grow into a starter. Dallas Turner will need to step up at OLB opposite Van Ginkel.
Round 5 Pick 159 Max Bredeson HB/FB/TE Michigan
Do everything blocker for the Wolverines and team leader. Replaces CJ Ham
Round 5 Pick 163 Charles Demmings CB Stephen F Austin
Small school CB with some pretty good coverage skills. Vikings really throwing darts at the wall to fix CB with him and James Pierre free agency signing.
Round 6 Pick 198 Demond Clairborne RB Wake Forest
Much needed RB depth.
Round 7 Pick 235 Gavin Gerhardt Center Cincinnati
Backup center
New Orleans Saints
Round 1 Pick 8 Jordyn Tyson
Good productive WR(when healthy) but was battling injuries. Good complement to Olave.
- 2024-25: Led Big 12 in receptions (136); second in receiving yards (1,812) and TD (18) over past two seasons
- Younger brother of Cavaliers 2024 first-round pick Jaylon Tyson
- Lateral bounce is off the charts; teleports at the top of routes.
- Elite elevation to haul in off-target passes.
- Uncoachable footwork; special ability to stop and start.
- Goes down on contact post-catch too often.
- Missed time every year (2025 hamstring, 2024 collarbone, 2022-23 ACL).
- Finesse receiver who avoids contact along his routes.
Round 2 Pick 42 Christen Miller DT Georgia
Run stuffing DT with some pass rush updside.
Round 3 Pick 73 Oscar Delp TE Georgia
More weapons for Shough but he never produced at Georgia like they though he would.
Round 4 Pick 132 Jeremiah Wright OG Auburn
Guard depth
Round4 Pick 136 WR Bryce Lane WR North Dakota State
Another weapon for Shough.
Round 5 Pick 172 Lorenzo Style Safety Ohio State
Brother of Sonny Style but could play safety and special teams.
Round 6 Pick 190 Barion Brown WR LSU
Another WR and this is one from LSU to make Nichels happy.
Round 7 Pick 219 TJ Hall CB Iowa
CB depth which they desperately need
Atlanta Falcons
Round 2 Pick 48 Aveion Terrell CB Clemson
AJ Terrell’s brother and will play the slot for the Falcons. Brothers in the secondary. Smaller inside out CB but has very good cover skills and tackling ability.
- 2024-25: 21 PD, 8 FF (first player in FBS history with 20+ PD and 8+ FF in a two-year span)
- 2024-25: Tied second among FBS CB in sacks (4.0); third in TFL (9.0)
- Effortless transitions; no loss of speed.
- Hitter; wants to knock the ball loose.
- Agility to knife around blocks with ease.
- Average speed to make up ground when he falls out of phase.
- Bigger backs and receivers can impose their will on him.
- Limited experience in the slot, despite potentially being his role in the NFL.
Round 3 Pick 79 Zachariah Branch WR Georgia
Athletic weapon for Tua/Penix as they needed one more.
Round 4 Pick 134 Kendal Daniels LB Oklahoma
LB depth and special teams.
Round 6 Pick 208 Anterio Thompson DT Washington
Might may have Dline depth.
Round 6 Pick 215 Harold Perkins LB LSU (pisses off Nichels)
Productive LB from LSU and could be a steal.
Round 7 Pick 231 Ethan Onianwa OT Ohio State
All teams improved their roster in the draft and with UDFAs as well. We’ll see by how much in the next few years.
Grades
Lions A++++
Everyone else C
Got em.